Navigating Through These Mean Streets

Someone might ask why I write so often about the "negative" aspects of this life and the trials for the Christian.

I do it because the positive does not need fixing. When we see the ugliness of the world around us it ought to drive us to God's Word. And, the word of God ought to release our fears, calm our minds to resume life without the burden of these encounters with ungodly people.

And, most of all, it encourages us to know that when we are reviled for walking with Christ it isn't about us at all, it is a demonstration of the character of those attacking us spiritually and emotionally to diminish our faith.

Satan is hard at work in our day to discredit the born-again believer so their witness will be ruined. He is using arrogant and prideful people to gossip against us so that no one else will listen to us.

What we know is that if a person listens to the gossip they too have a spiritual problem. Desiring to believe terrible things against a person we do not know well, is to enjoy what we hear wishing it were true and to remain friends with the gossiper.

Who is a reviler? "A "reviler" is someone who speaks abusively or contemptuously to or about another person, essentially a verbal abuser or someone who uses insults and slander."

Sometimes the reviler is very clever in cloaking their language as though they have not reviled, in their mind they are able to deny it and feel safe with their own lack of conscience.

Often those who revile are devising in their own minds what they wish to believe about someone that has never been proven to be true. In other words; revilers are liars and minions of the devil.

The word "revile" itself means to subject someone to verbal abuse, use abusive language, or speak to or about someone in an insulting way. This person has no respect for those they treat in this manner whether or not they claim to be a Christian.

When I hear someone reviling others to elevate themself I automatically question their motive. And, I find it always to be seen as the victim to gain followers who will not only keep their version as their go-to belief, also to pass it on to as many people as possible. The goal of the reviler is to gain their happiness through others who will hate their target as much as they hate them.

Isaiah 41:10-11 "10 Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My right hand of righteousness.11 Behold, all who rage against you will be ashamed and disgraced; those who contend with you will be reduced to nothing and will perish.…"

This passage in Isaiah was not written to us but it was written for us. The principles God used with the Jews and the prophets pertain to everyone who belongs to God.