Every Christian has had things happen in their life that they believe they did not deserve. Someone treats them unfairly. Another person falsely accuses them. Yet another spreads lies about them attempting to ruin their reputation. Even some are on the receiving end of misplaced "righteous" indignation over what turns out to be absolutely nothing, though looms large in the mind of the accuser.

This happens to every Christian. In fact, it is fascinating that I can recall events or situations in which I was falsely accused of something or people deliberately lied about me. Some of those things occurred years ago, but they are replayed in my mind with annoying repetition at times. It is one thing to expect this of the world - people who are lost because they do not have salvation. It is quite another thing to be on the receiving end of these things from people who claim to be Christians; brothers and sisters in Christ.

Let's be absolutely clear here. I am not referring to actual sins that a Christian commits. Certainly the fallout from those situations can be expected and deserved. Teaching Pastor Andy Savage of Highpoint mega church in Memphis, TN that we've discussed recently with respect to his involvement in a sexual situation while he was a youth director at a church some twenty years ago is a case in point. That is something that he did, something that he does not deny. However, recently, he is seen clearly trying to blame share with the victim in the incident instead of taking full responsibility for his failure to set the tone and boundaries, in spite of the fact that he says he has taken full responsibility.

We are not referring to these situations which might involve Christians.

The Bible, as we know, is filled with examples of the failures of sinful people, even those who clearly endeavored to follow God. Their failures through sin remind us that no one is above failure. Because of that, we dare not glory in another Christian's revealed sins. The inclusions of these examples in Scripture is also another proof of the integrity of God's Word.

Had the Bible been written solely by men with no inspiration from God the Holy Spirit, it can be assumed that these major failures would not be part of the written Word. But God is not interested in covering over humanity's sin. He is interested in revealing it so that we are aware of the problem and His remedy.

But again, we are not talking about when a Christian actually sins and suffers the consequences of that sin, though certainly God can and will forgive the penitent person. We are talking about Christians who are unjustly persecuted by the lost of this world or by other Christians and have done nothing to reap that suffering, except to follow Jesus. The apostle Peter makes this very clear, as just one example.

16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit... (1 Peter 3:16-18 ESV)

And again, this same apostle fleshes out the reality of suffering that will come (not "may" come), to the Christian later in the same epistle.

1 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. (1 Peter 4:1–2 ESV)

Anytime an authentic Christian deliberately chooses to follow Christ in each decision of his/her life, there is a great chance that some form of persecution will come. If you are a Christian who has never suffered any form of persecution (shunned by co-workers, hated or ridiculed by others, kept from promotion at work, etc.), it may well be that you are doing something wrong. You may have one foot in God's Kingdom and the other foot in the world. Paul would say, "brothers/sisters, this ought not to be."

I am almost 61 years-old. The truth is that I am feeling older and I notice my outlook is changing. I'm feeling far more settled in life and while I still want to do things, I'm finding that my one growing desire in life is to become more like my Savior. I want - more than anything - to see His character reflected in and through me with a growing constancy. Other things are simply falling by the wayside.

But I also find that things that have "been done" to me by non-Christians and Christians alike often loom large in my mind. I can recall (even if I don't want to or am not necessarily actively thinking about it), events that have occurred years ago as if they happened just yesterday. What a tragedy that as these things are replayed in my mind, I am torn between the desire to think on them and the desire to reject them completely. Does the Bible have the answer? You bet.

As you know, if you've been reading this blog for any length of time, I have been dutifully reading through my Bible every day so that in a year's time, I finished the entire Bible in 2017. January 1, 2018 I started over and I'm excited to share that I am seeing more detail this time. In fact, while I cannot yet say that I "delight" in reading God's Word, I am certainly getting there. His Word is starting to jump off the page to resonate with my heart and mind. I am thinking about what I read throughout the day more often.

One of these things I noticed the other day involved Joseph, one of the patriarchs of the nation of Israel. I'm sure you're familiar with Joseph, how he was cruelly mistreated by his brothers...