SCAPEGOAT

God made Him Who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.  2 Corinthians 5:21
 
On the cross Jesus became a scapegoat, and there are times when He wants to live that way in us.  There are times when loving wounded people becomes our cross, and Jesus wants to strengthen us so that we turn the other cheek, even when it’s our loved ones who are nailing us there.  He didn’t defend Himself and neither should we.  When we’re hit in vulnerable places we may be tempted to lash back, but we would do well to remind ourselves that it’s only our pride that’s been wounded.  It’s better by far that we find in Jesus the humility we need to forgive them, just as He forgave us.  To do that we must believe that by His stripes we’ve been healed, because if we react out of our wounding, we’ll end up piling more hurt upon the very ones Jesus is diligently working to heal.
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We must abide in the fullness of Christ’s Spirit to discern when and how He is leading us to take up our cross, or when it isn’t our burden to bear.  We must fix our eyes on Him, and not focus on what seems fair, for when insults were hurled at Him, He entrusted Himself to the source of all justice.1  The Father is way more interested in restoring hearts than settling scores.  He uses forgiveness as a salve for healing, and places us in situations where we can apply generous amounts of it to those He loves.2  Joining Him in His redemptive work makes bearing a cross a privilege, but it isn’t for the faint of heart.  So we pray, Father, please strengthen our feeble arms and weak knees! 3


1 1 Peter 2:23
2 Matthew 18:21-22
3 Hebrews 12:12-15