Paul wrote the following about his apostolic team: "To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. 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" (1 Cor 4:11-13).

This represents just a small part of their sufferings. And the last sentence tells of how they responded: "When we are cursed, we bless … we endure … we answer kindly". How amazing is that! Yet it is the privilege of every true disciple of Jesus. We are called to bless, to call out the gold in others and to be a blessing to all. We are not called to curse, criticize, judge or become a stumbling block for those seeking after truth. Rather, we are commanded not to do these things.

Under the Law of Moses, blessing were to be proclaimed over the obedient and faithful, but curses over the disobedient and unfaithful (Dt 11:26-32). Jesus changed all that. "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us" (Gal 3:10-14). So, in the present age of grace, we do not see God sending wars, earthquakes, tsunamis, etc., as his judgements on a sinful world.

"Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, 'Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them – do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish'" (Lk 13:1-5). In other words, these things will happen because we live in a fallen world, but they are not God's judgements. God intends them to lead to personal repentance. 

"Jesus set His face to go to Jerusalem, and sent messengers … to prepare for him … [to pass through] a village of the Samaritans … but they did not receive him … When His disciples James and John saw this, they said, 'Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?' But he turned and rebuked them, 'You do not know what manner of spirit you are of; for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them' (Lk 9:51-56). "The Lord … is patient … not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2Pt 3:9). Of what manner of spirit should we be? One of compassion, mercy, love, empathy and encouragement.