When my children were young, we would watch SpongeBob SquarePants – a silly cartoon that took place on the ocean floor. In one episode, because he wanted to sell his house, one of the characters, Squidward declared it was “Opposite Day.” 

His goal was to get everyone to act in ways that were opposite of how they normally act. The scheme failed. His house did not sell.

If you study the ministry and life of Jesus, you’ll notice that his words and actions are the epitome of Opposite Day. He was always doing the opposite of what His followers and the people of that time would do or say.

Here are a few examples:

• During those times, taxpayers were hated. Jesus had dinner with them.
• When called to defend Himself at His “trial,” Jesus was silent.
• And perhaps the most opposite thing Jesus did was declared from the cross:

“Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”” (Luke 23:34 NKJV)

Whoa! What? These people who lied about Jesus, betrayed Him, physically beat His body beyond recognition, He’s asking His Father to forgive them??

The Ultimate Opposite Day
Yep. That’s exactly what He did. If that’s not an Opposite Day mic drop, I don’t know what is.
Yet, this was the theme of Jesus’ entire ministry. Whatever you want to do, do the opposite.

If someone offends or hurts you, Jesus tell us to forgive them (every time).
“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)

If we want to curse our enemies, Jesus tells us to pray for them.
“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”

If we tempted to hate our neighbors, Jesus tells us to love them.

“And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:39)

While counterintuitive to our human nature, these are the actions that Jesus exemplified, which left a lot of people scratching their heads back in His time, and actually, even today.

Yeah…but…
I can hear the “Yeah, but Jen… it’s hard or you don’t know what others have done to me.” Oh, believe me… I hear you and I get it!

We want vengeance for the wrongs against us. Yet Jesus is telling us to let God handle it. He will bring about justice for all of the hurts we have suffered. How? When? I don’t know, but I know that God works all things out for good to those that love Him (Romans 8:28).

This week, I’d like to encourage you to declare an Opposite Day. Do the polar opposite of what you might normally do.

• Instead of snapping back, take a moment to breathe and contemplate your response (if any).
• Instead of being offended at someone, forgive them immediately.
• Instead of hating the people who have hurt you, ask God to show you how you can pray for them.

I guarantee you that unlike our pal Squidward, your Opposite Day will be a day of victory.