One woman recounted her life with these words: "Many years ago I had a question that could not be answered. That question was "why does my family treat me so disrespectfully as though there is nothing good in me?"
She knew it couldn't be because of the sin in her life because everyone has sinned. She had repented of the sins in her life and never did them again, why did her family treat her in this discourteous and impolite way?
The persecutors were Christian people who attended church every week and sometimes twice a week. What could be going on that she was not aware of, to cause such angst toward her?
Then one day it hit her, after she became born again those who have always treated her in these distasteful ways were no better after her life had changed. But wait; wouldn't we think that they would have been delighted at a soul that had been transformed by Jesus Christ? It would seem that they would become closer and even more connected to her as a sister in Christ.
It was only when she realized that sometimes people claim to be Christian but were never born again. They have a very high opinion of their own perceived goodness but do not have the Spirit of God within them that would rejoice with the new believer.
Luke 18:11-14 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, `God, I thank thee that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I get.'
13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, `God, be merciful to me a sinner!'
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Often those who are jealous or lack compassion have standards not of God but their own idea of "spirituality" that causes them to judge wrongly things they know little to nothing about.
Those who are pretenders in the church often view others on the basis of how they feel or how they think the others make them feel rather than on the truth.
For example, if we correct someone about their attitude or wrong unbiblical belief these same people will "feel" bad so they will judge the one who challenged them as bad.
Making up ideas in their own mind with the help of the devil they concoct thoughts of how they want to believe about the one who spoke the truth, that is merely their own imagination or at least the ideas the devil is planting in their minds.
There is a saying; "they want to believe we are bad people because of all the mean things they did to us."
Rather than searching their own hearts to see if they are jealous or a heart harboring the need to feel superior, they justify their wicked attitudes through rationalization and poorly developed attitudes. These people even attempt to provoke sinful responses in the person they hate to alleviate any sense that they have been wrong .
It is vitally important that we not react or respond in kind to those who want to provoke. It is not fire that fights fire, which only makes a bigger fire, as a preacher once said. It is a calm response that turns away wrath. We want to remove ourselves from those who attempt to provoke quenching any fire that they throw.
It is not possible to move forward in holiness or continue to grow as long as we are surrounded by people who think like Pharisees.
Pharisees hate humble people who have been broken and changed. The mind of the Pharisee is firmly set on rituals to follow rather than on Christ. Their mind cannot be Christlike because they are not born again. They do not look to the Spirit of the Law but to outward legalism that places people in bondage. Pharisee's glory in the failures and downfalls of others. Pharisees are not born again, they only think they are going to heaven when their destination is hell if they do not repent.
The Publican who repents glories in a restored and forgiven soul.
Is it possible for a believer to act in these shameful ways toward others, guessing and imagining things to fit their own desired belief about someone? It may be possible however if they continue down this road the Holy Spirit will stop speaking to them.
1 Timothy 4:1-2 "1 Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons, 2 influenced by the hypocrisy of liars, whose consciences are seared with a hot iron. "
1 Thessalonians 5:19
"19 Quench (silence) not the Spirit."
When we are rebellious and disobedient to God He will stop talking to us until we repent.
It is not wise to make judgements based on guesses or ideas without full knowledge of what is going on in someone's life. When we love someone we will come to them to ask, not in an attitude of accusation or superiority but in humility with kindness and love.
Those who love others want to save them, they never approach others to accuse or demean merely to elevate themselves.
When we want to grow in holiness we must choose our friends wisely, those who walk in the fruit of the Spirit will be true companions to us.
Galatians 5:22-23
"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
Anyone who approaches us about their observations will come with a humble Spirit desiring to understand and help, never to give a beat-down.
What is love?
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things"
Love comes to help restore. Arrogance and jealousy come to keep us down. The loving born again believer is quick to forgive, quick to restore and quick to encourage.
May we not be like the Pharisees who pride themselves in how good they think they are,how much better. May we be those who remember that we had to repent and that our lives were once sinful too, allowing us the empathy to restore a broken heart to full fellowship.
Galatians 6:1-2 "1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him with a spirit of gentleness. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.…"
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