Romans16:17-18
"17 Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them.
18 For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting."
One of the tactics of narcissism is to use the mean/nice cycle! They will be nice to you as long as you obey them, but when they see you are not being controlled by them, they will be mean again to beat you into submission.
It is a favorite tactic of apostates these days to accuse you of meanness, the very thing they are doing but you are not. When we see this tactic as an ongoing pattern with someone, we need to withdraw from them knowing we cannot believe them.
Jeremiah 12:6
"“For even your brothers and the household of your father,
Even they have dealt treacherously with you, Even they have cried aloud after you.
Do not believe them, although they may say nice things to you.”
I read on a placard this week a touching story of a little girl and her dolly, I don't remember the author nor have I been able to find it again, but I would like to relay the story as I remember it, it made such an impact on me for a couple of reasons. I will put it in quotes to indicate that it was not me that wrote the story. I can't even remember if I posted it on my own timeline, even though I thought about doing it.
"There was a little girl holding a tattered and dirty little doll. She was weeping uncontrollably. Her mother saw her in the yard, concerned for her little girl she rushed to find out what was the matter.
The mother asked the little girl what was wrong. Replying with big tears rolling down her face she said , "it's my dolly." The mother looked at the tattered and dirty doll, one arm slightly torn off and hair missing on it's head and replied, "oh honey it's alright, I'll clean the dolly up, fix her hair and arm to make her just like new."
The little girl looked at her mommy and said, "but mommy I love my doll, I'm not upset that she is a little broken, I love her just like she is. Perplexed the mother asked, "then what is the matter."
The little girl bowed her head in sadness and said, "Mommy, I have loved on this doll, I take care of her, keep her safe and take her with me everywhere I go, I love her all the time, but Mommy, she never loves me back. She doesn't even see me or know who I am."
Isn't this the way we treat God, He gives us everything necessary in this life, while offering everything magnificent for eternity, even His own life, His love is immense, even to the point of death, but most will not love Him back.
AND, those who don't love Christ can't love anyone beyond what they can provide for them. Many if not most worldly friendships are based on what others can proved for us, whether it be physical needs, gifts or just the pleasure of praise from them. Many people will discard friends merely because they are no longer useful to them.
The best friendships are the ones when we are loved just because! These friendships are based on mutual give and take. When the friendship is reciprocal, pleasing the other person is our pleasure. Making our friend feel safe and appreciated delights us. Those who use people to elevate themselves have no love, they do not love others and they do not love God.
Evidence of Godly love in someones life is that they deeply care about others, it is not show to impress others, but a genuine concern for others, even when we will get nothing out of it.
1 John 3:14 "We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death."
Romans 12:10 "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;"
How many believers are speaking truth to warn those in rebellion? I think not many, most do not realize the gravity of watching a person on their way to hell and not telling them.
Ezekiel 3:18 ""When I say to the wicked, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to warn the wicked from his wicked way that he may live, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand."
John 3:18 "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
2 Corinthians 4:7-15
"7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;
8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
12 So death works in us, but life in you.
13 But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak,
14 knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God."
Notice verse 13 "I believed therefore I spoke", seems like anyone who becomes born again is continually compelled to speak about it.
