Since the Holy Spirit in us is the restrainer we can surmise that unbelievers around us can sense that Holy Spirit whether or not we speak.
I am convinced this is the reason so many people are angry at us before they even know us. Unbelievers are often uncomfortable in our presence but don't know why, they think there must be something wrong with us. It is also the reason gossip and lies are told about us that are not accurate description of our lives.
The devil is busy whispering half truths into the minds of people. He is also busy causing "feelings" that are unsettling within people to make them believe there is something wrong with us.
The Pharisees accused Jesus of doing His miracles by the power of the devil, when all He did all the time was good for everyone who encountered Him.
Do we really think that the devil will do any less against us that he did against Christ? NO, Christ assured us that we will be hated because of Christ Who lives in us.
Matthew 10:21-22 "…21 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone on account of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved. "
Satan loves to use family to persecute believers. He knows that our desire to have a deeper relationship with family, looms large above every other relationship in our small world.
This is why God said that we must move on from family who do not love Him and would attempt to destroy our relationship with him in order to feel better about themselves.
Luke 14:26-27 "26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters— yes, even his own life— he cannot be My disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.…"
Our relationship with Christ ought to be so intense that we are willing to lose family to follow Him.
Many believers are enduring meanness from family members because of their love for Christ. Some of these family members pretend to be Christians but lack any fervor that demonstrates a love for Christ. These people are even embarrassed and irritated when we speak about Christ and His principles.
Some of the meanest people I have encountered have been Christians who love to pretend they are superior to others. I do not know if they are born again or not, but I do know that when we love the Lord we love the brethren.
1 John 3:14 "14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death."
John 13:34-35 "…34 A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so also you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”"
When there is someone who continually demeans and mocks a brother or sister in Christ merely to elevate self, we can suspect that they do not love Christ as they claim. If we love Christ we are excited to meet another brother or sister who also loves Him.
We must be willing to speak about Christ even if we will lose others over it. Christ must always come first above family and anyone else.
Matthew 22:36-38 "…36 “Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?” 37 Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment.…"
If we love Christ the way He commanded, then we will love the brethren properly as well as the principles of God.
No comments:
Post a Comment