When people do or say hurtful things, are you hurt by them, or are you hurt for them? There’s a huge difference between being hurt with someone and hurting for someone. Jesus isn’t just our standard; He is our life, and therefore, we live from Him and not just for Him. Jesus doesn’t walk around with hurt feelings because love does not seek its own and does not take into account a wrong suffered. Whenever people do or say hurtful things it comes from their own brokenness, and therefore, Christ-likeness (living from our union with Christ) hurts for people who behave poorly even if their misbehavior is directed towards you – especially if their misbehavior is directed towards you- because the chief concern of Jesus is their healing and wholeness. Jesus does not get offended with people; He gets offended for people because He hates what sin and brokenness is doing to them. The word “holy” could be translated to mean “other.” The life that Jesus lives, and therefore lives in and through us, is “other” than any kind of life we’ve ever lived before. When you abide in Christ, His love will control you (2 Corinthians 5:14); and as new creations, we no longer live for ourselves. Being hurt with people and being offended by people is all about you, but the life that Jesus lives is all about them. This “way” that Jesus lives is so different, but it is so gloriously free. It is truly supernaturally abundant living to not walk around with hurt feelings and an offended heart. Love is liberating.
