HOW does a Christian deal with this? Well, it is a difficult feat, that is for sure. We are taught to avoid evil, but sometimes we can't get away from it, for it lurks within the Church, social gatherings, social circles, Families, Friends, and even in the closest of relationships. It is a battle to remain dignified, gentle, kind, LOVING, and otherwise virtuous when a snake is slithering in your face, indeed...
PRAY, PRAY, and PRAY some more! Pray for *GOD* to give them a heart, and for the strength necessary to endure their venom, and hisses! Pray for the wisdom to continue to act according to HIS WILL, and to withstand the onslaught! Pray for peace, and pray for whatever might lead to the eradication of such...
Evil people are control freaks, manipulators, gossipers, and go to any length to cause harm, and suffering to their target(s)! They will lie, and actually exist in a lie that others believe their derision, and contempt! They charm particular people that these will believe what they say against another! They use even close Friends of their victims, as they whisper deceptions, causing these to wonder, no matter how long they have known the victim, the wicked whispering is cunningly interjected in ways that make it sound plausible, and then, there is doubt, and friction. So, you see, no matter how good someone might be, or how fine their reputation, an evil side-winder can create conflict, and worse...
We are instructed not to fret, worry, or fear; VERY hard to master, but IN FAITH, and FAITHFULNESS, VERY necessary, for when we fret, worry, or get angry, we tend to sin, and so, we RELY ON THE LORD *GOD*, and study all the more the Scriptures, which will aid us in invoking HIM to lead us through. And we have to remember, the MORE we call on HIM, the more evil WILL rear it's ugliness! Ah, it IS complicated, as we are to move forward IN HIS NAME, in peace, hope, and gentleness WHILE evil is raging!!!
Evil IS used to people reacting, but as Christians, we are taught this:
Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; (Psalms 37:1)
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. (Psalms 37:7)
Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. (Psalms 37:8)
We are going to appear weak, or even worse to the snake, but TRUTH knows better, AND we SHALL reap from REMAINING IN *GOD* that HE remains in us! Let's dig deeper into this...
To fret is to be vexed, troubled, worried.
Do not be vexed, troubled, or worried because of those who do wrong. Fretting leads only to evil.
Because of the great increase of evil, depravity, and perversity that is on the horizon, the temptation will be to fret continually. Fretting is not pleasing to God and reveals our spiritual immaturity, our lack of faith in God.
To cease fretting ourselves in the present hour requires first of all that we recognize fretting is sin; that it tears us down from our high place in Christ; that it will lead us into evil.
Second, we must denounce all fretting as sin, not worthy of a place in the Kingdom of God.
Third, we must renounce fretting, commanding it to leave our personality and not return.
Fourth, we are to draw near to God and ask Him to help us cease from all fretting.
We must take these four actions vigorously, with all the determination we possess. If we do not, we will continue to displease God by our fretting. In this case we are not a victorious saint but a defeated believer.
To abandon all fretting, ceasing to yield to the temptation to fret, is an extremely important aspect of the Christian’s response to evil
A second aspect may be found in the following passage:
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:17-21)
The battle is not ours, yet, we are personally affected by evil, especially when it comes from someone close to us, or our existence! The key is to learn to LET *GOD* have our back, and to respond according TO HIS WILL, albeit VERY difficult to do at times. There are GREAT lessons to be learned in handling evil as HIS Children, but we CAN'T on our own, as we have not mastered control, or excellence to that extent yet, and ONLY HE can, and will, properly, and entirely protect us, guide us, direct us, and lead us through. So, in the meantime, we tell the evil one to flee, we LIFT UP TO *GOD*, and we WAIT ON HIM, as we PRAISE, WORSHIP, GIVE THANKS, and REJOICE....
And yah, unfortunately, evil will still be right there, but we will be less intimidated by it, and less likely to respond in ways which feed it, when we REMAIN IN THE LORD, and HIS WILL! As we LEARN to LOVE as HE LOVES, as we PRAY, PRAISE, WORSHIP, and REJOICE, as we FORGIVE, as we exist according TO THE SPIRIT, we MATURE, and take on more of our TRUTH! CERTAINLY, we WILL stumble, and trip now and again, but we simply, KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON IN HIS NAME, FOR HIS GLORY, and the good of all! Sometimes I feel as if I am failing *GOD* when I am overwrought with the agonies which evil inflicts upon me, YET, I NEVER stop aiming to grow, develop, and mature in the best of my understanding, and ability, while RELYING ON HIM to LEAD me through. YAH, it IS tough, but I TRUST IN HIS WAYS, and KNOW that one reason it is so hard IS because of the distracting, and turbulent world which I am in, but which is NOT my end...
DAILY, we LEARN the meaning of BEING a Child of *GOD*, for it IS in contrast to what we were reared in BY this world, and it's ways! MANY weary of the effort, of the change, but the TRUE Children WILL endure, persevere, and withstand, FOCUSING UPON HIM, and their BLESSED state, which WON'T be fully realized until we are brought through the valley, to our HOME, THE KINGDOM OF THE LORD *GOD* ALMIGHTY!!!
LWINSOR © 2019
BIBLICAL, and/or other references marked BOLDLY IN COLOURS
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