5 quick things that I use in my life to respond in a godly way and to fight back certain sins (I am grateful for men like Pete Schemm, Dwayne Milioni, and Danny Akin who have helped me compile this list, this is not exhaustive, but I believe it is helpful):
1. Dwell and meditate on what the cross has done for you- Think about what it has saved you for, what it has saved you from, and the cost of your redemption (remind yourself every morning of the gospel).
2. Meditate on Philippians 2- Seek to pursue a mind that is like Christ Jesus’, I often find myself when I am wanting to “spit nails” on the highway because of slow driving, saying to myself Jesus would never even think like this. We are called not only to respond godly, but more so to get to the root of the problem in the mind and heart, Philippians 2 is a wonderful passage to help us.
3. Read relevant passages about specific areas in your life where it is easy for you to respond ungodly
4. Surround yourself with the right people- those who spur you onto holiness and call you out for ungodliness.
5. Feed your soul through the disciplines
In addition, read 1 Peter and see how to respond godly. It is amazing that Peter is not left in his unbelief – – in fact, he is willing to drink the cup Jesus drank, he follows him all the way to an upside-down crucifixion. Dwell on 1 Peter and see what he later writes to the churches. He may have had this scene in mind when he says follow the one who “when he was reviled he did not revile in return” and “do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.” Peter now gets what we must get, and that is because he sees the world through the lens of the cross.
I hope that we will pursue the footsteps of Christ. I am ashamed to say that I reacted quite differently than my King when Robbie spit on me. I reached over the seat and punched him in the face. Instead I must look to the cross and character of My King. He was spit on even as he was heading to the cross to die for “the spitter”, and for you and me. I did not respond like him, because in that instance I did not believe the message of the cross. The cross of Christ calls us to something radically different than a Darwin gospel; it calls us trust in the mercy and justice of a cross.
N.A.