Cursings or Blessings..

1 Corinthians 4:12-13a "We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly"

      Oh Lord, would all of this be true of me!   The working hard with my own hands part is not hard for me,  but the second sentence is; and I know why.  It is because of my pride.  I would see them as attacks against me!  But for Paul and the other apostles, this was not true.  They realized the attacks were not against them, but against You. They had seen first hand Your example. If they reacted in pride, then what they taught would become null and void; no one would be edified or converted.  They are reacting in the way You told them to in the Sermon on the Mount:
Matthew 5:11-12 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."  Now THAT is counter-cultural!
      Lord, You know my every thought and the frailties of my being, but do not leave me powerless to be different...godly and gracious in times of slander, persecution, and cursings.  I have no excuse to be other than like You because I have Your Holy Spirit within me.  Lord, please forgive the times I acted in pride instead of godly humility.  Help me to remember that the slurs, persecutions, and revilings are against You, not me personally as I stand for You.  Make my ministry with others as powerful as Paul's for Your sake, not MINE!
      In these days when wrong is seen as right and holiness and purity are deemed "old fashioned" and even hateful, and You ways are offensive to the world; help me to STAND! In these days when slander and persecutions of Your Family are on the rise, Lord, under gird us!  Keep us very close to You, Lord. Keep us in Your loving grasp, and be our refuge in this storm.  The Battle is the Lord's!