There are those family members who have spent their entire lives denigrating and demeaning others for the purpose of elevating self, even believers are guilty of this.
As you grew up you were perplexed that they continued to bring up things you did in your childhood that are not happening anymore, as though they had nothing in their past that could be used this way. I hear things like this frequently in my encounters with believers. It is not bad enough that they are bent on reminding us, they also spread gossip, even lying about us, feeling self-righteous that they were not as bad as those they malign.
Childhood was a place where these self-absorbed people felt elevated above others with the encouragement of the adults in their life. There was no training in love, kindness or self-sacrifice, only continual praise and gratification, solidifying their superior view of themselves.
Now for the encouragement, God has something to hold against every single person on the face of the earth. No one has measured up to His standard on any level. Those who think they had something to offer Him, are fooling themselves and very likely never knew the love of Christ in their own hearts. There can be no love in the heart of one who feels a need to be admired for their talents and accomplishments while demonstrating superiority in the presence of those they think do not “measure up” to their worldly idea of respect and honor. Why is this encouragement? It is comforting to know that we don’t have to measure up to God or anyone else. We can trust Christ that He can work in us in every way that is necessary, it does not depend on us, but on Him. Past sins or flaws get to stay in the past, forever.
John 6:37
“"All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.”
Acts 10:34-35
“34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.”
Romans 12:1
“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”
We can also choose to walk away from those who torment our lives with manipulation. If they are believers, we can choose to have our relationship with them in heaven, while free from the drama they bring in this life. We cannot help those who will not listen, nor can we help those who are elevated in their own eyes. God will have to deal with them, while we move on to those who want to hear the message of Christ.
Titus 3:10
“As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him,”
1 John 3:14 “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.”
Our love for the brethren is not based on talents, accomplishments or outer beauty, nor is it based on past sins that have been removed, rather it is based on Christ, the Perfect One. We have fellowship with one another because of Him, and no one has anything of value to offer Him or anyone else that counts for eternity.
Romans 3:18-28
“18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.
21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.
22 This righteousness is given through faith in[b] Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished
26 he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith.
28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.”
Meditate on Christ daily, leaving behind the past to press on toward the goal, leaving behind the past may include leaving behind the people who would attempt to keep us stuck in the former life that no longer has any power over us.
Philippians 3:14 "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."
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