The hardest thing to remember is that not everyone can hear, not everyone can see; that actually the majority of people have not escaped the snare of the devil, but are in fact being held captive!
I actually have to remind myself that this is the case when a brother or sister turns away, to walk back in the world! The fact is that: deceived people do not know they are deceived!
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. (II Timothy 4:3-4 NKJV)
Everyone, will at some point experience conflict with a brother or sister in The Lord, and may even be left scratching their head in bewilderment, asking themselves, "what did I do?", when they walk away. The enemy is quick to try and make you think you are in the wrong; after all he is the accuser of the brethren! We have to examine our heart and, if God exposes something then we are to go to them and set it right. However, if we are guiltless, then we must not hold it against them!
"For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: (I Peter 2:19-21 NKJV)
Not to "take offense" is what we are called to do, and is easy to accomplish IF we keep the following in mind:
"if, God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape"
Sin causes a person to lose their sense of direction. It cause their moral compass to go awry! A willingness to repent helps keep all of us on the narrow way! An unwillingness to repent is most often a pride issue, which compounds the sin! We must pray for the backslidden person, that "God will grant them repentance"; to turn them away from their sin!
We also, have to watch that we too, do not fall into sin by listening to the enemy; causing further separation from our brethren!
We have to keep our hearts pure by walking in repentance! It is very easy to fall into judgment when wronged and that is what the enemy wants! Our sin (of judgment) will bind them to us! We must release (them) for them to be set free, and so we will not be bound also!
"For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you."(Matthew 7:2 NKJV)
"Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." (II Timothy 2:22 NKJV)
"But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."(II Timothy 4:5 NKJV)
We must endure afflictions with a pure heart! Without grumbling and complaining! OR we will continue in that area of the wilderness, going round and round, until we get it right! This is part of the perfecting of our faith!
We may even end up like Paul: "At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them." (II Timothy 4:16 NKJV)
We may, indeed, stand alone, unable to have any defense, but we are to take comfort (that we are in good company) in the fact that Jesus did the same! We are to take up our cross and follow Him! We walk in love and we walk in forgiveness!
"Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." (II Timothy 3:12 NKJV)
A friend calls it "getting our lemon squeezed!" When you squeeze a lemon, lemon juice comes out! However, when we have overcome and our lemon gets squeezed, honey comes out! It is an amazing feeling to realize you have learned the lesson well; and learn it we must, for what lies ahead!
"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." (II Timothy 3:1-7 NKJV)
"But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (II Timothy 3:13-17 NKJV)!
Read your Bible!
Walk in love!
Walk in repentance!
Finish the race!
Even so - MARANATHA!
From 4/26/15
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