Just recently a friend told me that he met his ex--Pastor and his wife,they told him they no longer believed in God, they said that people had hurt them in the church. I know from experience that one will receive hurts yes even from Christians,especially if you are a leader. The greatest leader who ever lived was our Saviour , he experienced many hurts,even from his own disciples,in fact it was a battle all the way for Him,but He just kept going on,likewise the apostle Paul had more than his fair share of troubles from Christians CP Philippians 1 v 15- 17. I personally had hurts in the church that I pastored, whatever the rights or wrongs ,one should still carry on in the faith,wherever the hurts come from. Not only should we carry on ,we are to have a spirit of forgiveness, our Saviour taught us to love our enemies and pray for them .Matthew 5 v 44.Let not hate for your fellow Christians fill your heart ,if a fellow Christian hurts you, remember.'Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother or sister is still in darkness 1 John 2v9. Let me stress, hurts come to us from many directions, from fellow Christians, from non Christians, from painful experiences,from losses to crosses. That last word is important,for remember what our dear Saviour said ,'take up your cross and follow me'. Matthew 10 v 38.
'I traveled down a lonely road, and no one seemed to care,
The burden on my weary back,had bowed me to despair;
I oft complained to Jesus how folks were treating me,
And then I heard Him say so tenderly,My feet were also weary
Upon the Calvary road,The cross became so heavy,
I fell beneath the load,Be faithful ,weary pilgrim,
The morning I can see- Just lift your cross,
and follow close to Me.' (Words Ira F . Stanphill)
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