When you have a friend who continues to treat you disrespectfully regularly then it is time to remove yourself from them and put your energies into those who do not act this way. We can respectfully move on without challenging them anymore and without demanding that they make a change. It must be the Holy Spirit Who moves them to realize their sin. Only through confession of that sin is there a possibility of reconciliation in any relationship. Without confession and a desire to act better, there can be no reconciliation.
We cannot change another person to act in a Christlike way, we can only express ourselves to them, when they become angry or mean-spirited because we have told them our concerns then is the time to move on and pray for the Holy Spirit to reach their heart. Ezekiel 11:19
Often kind-hearted people remain in impossible relationships hoping that our kindness toward them will soften their hearts and things will get better. However, we are not only unable to change a person's heart we are not responsible to do so. God can work on others without us and perhaps better because there is history and old baggage that must be removed before eyes will be opened.
It is actually pride that makes us think we are the only ones who can work change in someone. We think we are doing something wrong by walking away from those we love, when in fact it may be the most loving thing we can do for change to occur in us as well as them.
Isaiah 26:9-11 "…9 My soul longs for You in the night; indeed, my spirit seeks You at dawn. For when Your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness. 10 Though grace is shown to the wicked man, he does not learn righteousness. In the land of righteousness, he acts unjustly and fails to see the majesty of the LORD. 11 O LORD, Your hand is upraised, but they do not see it. They will see Your zeal for Your people and be put to shame. The fire set for Your enemies will consume them!…"
Many of the people we encounter today have only one thing in mind, that is to control you. They cannot be happy loving who you are, they must change you to be like them. This used to be called "peer pressure", now I think more accurately it is "cultural mobbings", in which the one who does not do and say everything the culture does and says will be mocked, excluded and intimidated until they give up themselves to become the mob.
If you have to set aside who you are to satisfy the mob the mob is not your friend, they are your enemy. Friends appreciate us for who we are, for who God made us.
Life is full of diversity of thought and creativity, there are many ways to do a thing right and with integrity. Usually, the ones who have only one way to act are those who lack integrity because they are not thinking for themselves, they are invested in "group think" in which the group tells them what to believe and what to do, even how to act. These people always have formulas and most often not in alignment with the Scriptures.
Our God is the God of infinite possibilities within His principles. He affords great freedom to those who are dedicated to hearing His voice.
John 10:27-28
"27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:"
There is wonderful freedom within the principles of God's Holy Word. Never freedom to sin but freedom to express ourselves within our personalities as led by the Holy Spirit. Those who claim they don't have to follow the Bible are very limited in their choices as dictated by the "group", who determines the very personalities of those within that group. These people lack personality as well as creativity because of the limitations of the culture in which they are confined.
When we follow Christ we are not limited to the culture around us, we can step out of that culture and hear from Christ as we live out our lives of adventure with great joy. Even though our teaching trials we have this inner joy, knowing that everything God brings to us is for our learning and strengthening.
Those who are controlled and manipulated by "the group think" will never grow to their full potential. They are being held back, diminished, and beggarly for their addiction to being accepted by "the group."
The life of a born-again believer's life which is indwelt by the Holy Spirit is an adventurous and rewarding life, not only here but even into the next life as we delight in the great expectancy of the life after our death.
John 10:27-29 27 My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all. No one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand.…"
Never be jealous of the life of those who are well-liked by the world and their groups. They have nothing you want. The group wants to keep you in bondage to them, taking away your freedom as you adhere to their desires for you.
Galatians 4:16-17 "…16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 Those people are zealous for you, but not in a good way. Instead, they want to isolate you from us, so that you may be zealous for them. "
