Together # 63
A Together for Perseverance
A Together for Perseverance
Forbid Mistreatment of One Another
copyright by Dick Wulf, 2018
Do not allow Christians to be mistreated. Speak up for those who cannot represent themselves. Involve all in biblical interactions that lead to growth in spirit.
Lev 19:1-18; Prov 31:8; 1 Cor 12:21-26; Gal 5:26; Eph 4:29-32; James 4:11-12
It only makes sense that our God who tells us to love one another would not want anyone in His family to be mistreated. There are many ways Christians can hurt one another and none of them glorifies God.
While we cannot absolutely forbid Christians mistreating one another, we can take this desire of our God seriously and prevent some mistreatment. We can sometimes anticipate hurt in our closest relationships and try to stop it before it starts. And we can try to stop mistreatment already under way. When we see it happening in our Christian Inner Circles where we have influence, we should be able to stop it. In the organized church, only the most hurtful things can be dealt with through church discipline. But, this hardly works because people just change churches to avoid correction.
Therefore, the various Bible instructions to forbid mistreatment of one another can usually be followed adequately only in Christian Inner Circles. This is where others have a stake in the right treatment of everybody. This is where bonds of love should be strong enough to correct wrongs.
One type of mistreatment we need to forbid is not treating one another equally. We will not deal with forbidding unequal treatment because treating everyone equally is a separate Together.
Let’s use as a few examples some of the commands mentioned in Leviticus 19 where God tells His people how He wants them to live together. In that time it was the nation of Israel, now they are instructions for Christians.
While we cannot absolutely forbid Christians mistreating one another, we can take this desire of our God seriously and prevent some mistreatment. We can sometimes anticipate hurt in our closest relationships and try to stop it before it starts. And we can try to stop mistreatment already under way. When we see it happening in our Christian Inner Circles where we have influence, we should be able to stop it. In the organized church, only the most hurtful things can be dealt with through church discipline. But, this hardly works because people just change churches to avoid correction.
Therefore, the various Bible instructions to forbid mistreatment of one another can usually be followed adequately only in Christian Inner Circles. This is where others have a stake in the right treatment of everybody. This is where bonds of love should be strong enough to correct wrongs.
One type of mistreatment we need to forbid is not treating one another equally. We will not deal with forbidding unequal treatment because treating everyone equally is a separate Together.
Let’s use as a few examples some of the commands mentioned in Leviticus 19 where God tells His people how He wants them to live together. In that time it was the nation of Israel, now they are instructions for Christians.
“Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, . . .”
Lev 19:3
Lev 19:3
Here in Leviticus we are given responsibility to see that others treat their parents with reverence. There is no conceivable way this can be done in large Christian fellowships and organizations. How would anyone find out if a person was speaking disrespectfully to his or her mother or father? Seeing that parents are not mistreated must be done by Christian Inner Circles.
Some help can come through sermons. The pastor can preach about treating parents reverently. The sermon can explain how to set limits, create boundaries, and deal with problems with parents in a respectful manner through mild speech and firm conviction. Listeners can be encouraged to not react to or be provoked by parents, even to face parental rejection lovingly. Where relationships are strained, believers can be exhorted to still do the right things, even if under fire.
However, it is in Christian friendship groups that actual problems with parents will be exposed and discussed. Friends will give counsel and follow through to see that parents are respected when it is necessary to not go along with their wishes and behaviors. For example, a friend discloses that every time she visits her parents, they disparage her faith in God relentlessly. After prayer and seeking help from the Holy Spirit, the person might have to curtail her visits with her parents because they are toxic and cause too much anxiety. It is natural to make this happen angrily, but with the help of those in her Christian Inner Circle, this woman can adopt a calm presentation telling that she will resume visits only when her dad or mom or both stop commenting on her Christian faith. She might even be encouraged to send holiday cards with the message, “Still waiting for you to make the decision to treat my faith with respect. Hope we can visit again soon.” Who knows, maybe five years later her parents will promise to stop. In the meantime, those in her Christian Inner Circle can keep her respectful toward her parents and support her in her discouragement and sadness.
God is also recorded in Leviticus saying in effect, “Don’t let me hear that you are not concerned for the poor!”
Some help can come through sermons. The pastor can preach about treating parents reverently. The sermon can explain how to set limits, create boundaries, and deal with problems with parents in a respectful manner through mild speech and firm conviction. Listeners can be encouraged to not react to or be provoked by parents, even to face parental rejection lovingly. Where relationships are strained, believers can be exhorted to still do the right things, even if under fire.
However, it is in Christian friendship groups that actual problems with parents will be exposed and discussed. Friends will give counsel and follow through to see that parents are respected when it is necessary to not go along with their wishes and behaviors. For example, a friend discloses that every time she visits her parents, they disparage her faith in God relentlessly. After prayer and seeking help from the Holy Spirit, the person might have to curtail her visits with her parents because they are toxic and cause too much anxiety. It is natural to make this happen angrily, but with the help of those in her Christian Inner Circle, this woman can adopt a calm presentation telling that she will resume visits only when her dad or mom or both stop commenting on her Christian faith. She might even be encouraged to send holiday cards with the message, “Still waiting for you to make the decision to treat my faith with respect. Hope we can visit again soon.” Who knows, maybe five years later her parents will promise to stop. In the meantime, those in her Christian Inner Circle can keep her respectful toward her parents and support her in her discouragement and sadness.
God is also recorded in Leviticus saying in effect, “Don’t let me hear that you are not concerned for the poor!”
“When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God.”
Lev 19:9-10
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Of course, we know that this applies now to our earnings unless we are farmers. If we garden, we might want to find the joy in planting more than we can use and getting some produce into homes that have little money on which to live. My wife Jean and I do this for those few things that grow well at 6,000 feet in the Rocky Mountains. In effect, God is saying not to live on our total earnings, but put some money aside for the needy. If we make a decent living we need to curb our appetites to have money available for those in need.
Then God mentions more things he wants us to make sure do not happen.
Then God mentions more things he wants us to make sure do not happen.
“You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another.”
Lev 19:11
Lev 19:11
If any Christian is stealing, it won’t be caught by the organized church. But, Christian friends, family members or a spouse might see it. Actual theft is rare, but stealing can take other, less obvious forms.
For example, if someone in our Christian Inner Circle borrows, and others sense that they will never get back whatever was loaned, everyone needs to begin to take notice. If suspicions prove true, the Christian needs to be confronted. Perhaps those close to this individual need to publicly ask everyone not to lend to him or her until genuine repentance appears, in which case another chance at borrowing can be given.
We live in an age where it is acceptable to put “spin” on what we say. However, it is not acceptable for Christians. Vague language can later be claimed to have another meaning, but this is dealing falsely. It might even be out and out lying. Fortunately, some believer in our Christian Inner Circle who deals falsely or lies through vague declarations will do so over and over again. When such is suspected, others with frequent interactions can discuss the person’s behavior and decide righteously. Then a plan for that person’s correction and healing is put in place to be carried out over however long it takes.
God also does not want us bullying one another.
For example, if someone in our Christian Inner Circle borrows, and others sense that they will never get back whatever was loaned, everyone needs to begin to take notice. If suspicions prove true, the Christian needs to be confronted. Perhaps those close to this individual need to publicly ask everyone not to lend to him or her until genuine repentance appears, in which case another chance at borrowing can be given.
We live in an age where it is acceptable to put “spin” on what we say. However, it is not acceptable for Christians. Vague language can later be claimed to have another meaning, but this is dealing falsely. It might even be out and out lying. Fortunately, some believer in our Christian Inner Circle who deals falsely or lies through vague declarations will do so over and over again. When such is suspected, others with frequent interactions can discuss the person’s behavior and decide righteously. Then a plan for that person’s correction and healing is put in place to be carried out over however long it takes.
God also does not want us bullying one another.
“You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him.”
Lev 19:13a
Lev 19:13a
We are responsible to God to see that no one is the victim of power plays. When this happens in the life of an organizational or house church, we must speak up and forbid continued mistreatment. However, it will most likely be done in Christian friendship groups, families or marriages. Those who witness oppressive behavior must act to forbid such mistreatment.
If a husband or wife is so harsh as to frighten the spouse into submission, those in the Christian Inner Circle of the offender need to forbid such mistreatment. Mistreatment of children through excessive and frightening loudness and threats also need to be stopped because usually the other parent is too overpowered. So it is a job for the Christian friends of the parents.
God does not want us to allow differential decisions about unacceptable behavior without righteous reasons.
If a husband or wife is so harsh as to frighten the spouse into submission, those in the Christian Inner Circle of the offender need to forbid such mistreatment. Mistreatment of children through excessive and frightening loudness and threats also need to be stopped because usually the other parent is too overpowered. So it is a job for the Christian friends of the parents.
God does not want us to allow differential decisions about unacceptable behavior without righteous reasons.
“You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.
Lev 19:15
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This command was to the religious nation of Israel where every court was to be a court of faith. This is not applicable to us, since the church has no power in the secular court system. However, we can apply it to making sure that we are not more lenient in our understanding of other Christians based on how much we like them. We might not like it, but we are to be as critical of our good friends as another Christian we do not like as well. We are not to act hypocritically to win someone’s favor. All of us are prone to do this at times and we need one another’s help to forbid such mistreatment to those left out.
“You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord.”
Lev 19:16
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Accusing people without checking out the truth of suspicions is forbidden by God, and we are to forbid this also. Falsely accusing people is serious mistreatment. We have most likely seen it happen and witnessed the destruction that follows. When someone passes some indictment along to us, we should immediately ask if he or she or someone above reproach has checked it out. We might also ask why we were given the information. Is it for corrective or precautionary reasons or is it irresponsible gossip that makes it mistreatment?
We don’t usually “stand up against the life of” our neighbors, but when someone has successfully repented and reformed, we can inhibit them by not giving them another chance. In this way we would “stand up against” their life. So many of us fail the first time we try to change our behavior that multiple chances for success must be given, always with prayer support and occasionally with other forms of help.
It is easy to claim that we do not mistreat one another, and we probably do a good job of forbidding the more obvious forms of mistreatment. In order to love God more, we can forbid the kinds of mistreatment too often overlooked.
Opportunity to Become More and More Like Jesus Christ
We don’t usually “stand up against the life of” our neighbors, but when someone has successfully repented and reformed, we can inhibit them by not giving them another chance. In this way we would “stand up against” their life. So many of us fail the first time we try to change our behavior that multiple chances for success must be given, always with prayer support and occasionally with other forms of help.
It is easy to claim that we do not mistreat one another, and we probably do a good job of forbidding the more obvious forms of mistreatment. In order to love God more, we can forbid the kinds of mistreatment too often overlooked.
Opportunity to Become More and More Like Jesus Christ
The Fulmer Family has had family fun nights weekly and family meetings at least monthly for a few years. As a result, the family works well as a team to have fun, deal with family problems, and help one another spiritually. Most noteworthy is that Dad Fulmer and Mom Fulmer often ask their kids for help with their own spiritual growth as well as with their own troublesome emotions.
There are four Fulmer children: Tom who is 8, Sarah is 10, Patty is 13 and Josh is 15. All six family members know one another’s emotional, intellectual and spiritual strengths. However, a sticky problem was brought up and dealt with last week. Sarah brought up that she thought Patty was favored over Josh and felt this was mistreatment. This was taken seriously, as is everything brought up, but especially because Sarah is the sibling least close to Josh. There was a time when Mom or Dad Fulmer would have become defensive, but that kind of response disappeared as trust built in the family as they learned to be on one another’s side. And, so, the family looked at Sarah’s evidence and found that the points she brought up were valid. Patty was the easy one to parent, cooperative almost to a fault. It was discussed that the other three kids had more assertive personalities and God did not want them mistreated. They were the way they were because He created them to be more adventuresome and risk-taking. Obviously, Jesus has something He wants done in the future that will take righteous assertiveness. The family decided that Patty was under too much pressure to be “the good one” in the family to offset the needs of the more assertive children that overwhelmed the parents. It became clear that the parents needed to stop holding Patty and the others back because they wanted their own lives to be easy. The parents admitted lack of confidence in handling the demands of active children wanting to take on life with vigor. The family agreed to work on building up the confidence of Mom and Dad Fulmer and set Patty free from worrying about making life easy for her parents. In seeing that the mistreatment of favoring one child for wrong reasons stopped, the whole family was being like Jesus who definitely does not want His disciples to hurt one another, even though unintentionally. |
There are few times recorded in Scripture where Jesus stopped people from being mistreated. He did nothing for those mistreated by the Romans. We know He stopped people from mistreating God the Father when they turned the temple into a marketplace. And, there is a hint of His intervention when he healed the ear severed by Peter’s sword as Jesus was being arrested.
And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And he touched his ear and healed him
Luke 22:50-51
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Another time where Jesus did not let His disciples hurt one another was when special favor was requested for James and John.
Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Matt 20:20-28
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When Jesus heartedly endorsed the instruction to love neighbor as self, He definitely implied that we are not to mistreat one another.
“. . . but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.”
Lev 19:18b
Lev 19:18b
And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.
Luke 10:27
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When we work together to ensure that no one in our Christian Inner Circles or our institutional churches is mistreated, we become more like Jesus. He was evidently very good at this, because we have little evidence in the Bible that His twelve disciples mistreated one another. Jesus spoke out boldly about difficult love that would obviously forbid mistreatment. He even told us to love our enemies, and if it was okay to mistreat anyone, it would be them. Just how firmly did Jesus preach about not mistreating one another? Fiercely emphatic!
Most all of us need to stick our neck out in defense of other Christians. Together, we can pray, think through methodology and embolden one another. Together we can courageously stand against mistreatment of one another and be like Jesus.
Opportunity to Worship God
Most all of us need to stick our neck out in defense of other Christians. Together, we can pray, think through methodology and embolden one another. Together we can courageously stand against mistreatment of one another and be like Jesus.
Opportunity to Worship God
Sylvester and Carrie are good friends with Dennis and Dorothy, a Christian couple who live in their apartment complex. Carrie and Sylvester had been bothered for some time that during some of their activities as couples Dennis treated his wife Dorothy inconsiderately, even harshly. They knew that God was displeased with this and wanted them to do something to end this mistreatment. But, they did not want to lose their friendship over it.
Therefore, when they finally decided to speak up, it was an act of worship. Honoring God’s wishes that His people not mistreat one another was worship. Intervening to halt the mistreatment was like God’s character, making it worship in a second way. It was decided that Sylvester would take Dennis on a day-long adventure and address the problem. This was to avoid defensiveness on Dennis’ part and escalation by Dorothy once she saw she had advocates. Sylvester began midday by asking Dennis, “Are you aware that you are pretty harsh with Dorothy at times?” Sylvester had prepared for this intervention by identifying questions beforehand that might get Dennis thinking but not overly defensive. Among the list were questions like, “Do you know that God especially wants us to keep one another from treating each other badly? Have you noticed Carrie or I mistreating each other?” “What is your best response to the observation by Carrie and I that you are too harsh with Dorothy?” It went well after Dennis stopped reacting as if Sylvester was attacking him. Multiple reassurances were needed that Sylvester only wanted what was best for Dennis and Dorothy as well as what God seemed to want. But, it all worked out and Dennis became willing to try to change his ways. |
God does what He can to keep His people from mistreating one another. He tells us how we should live. Living that way will keep us from mistreating each other. When we keep one another from harming each other, we act like God and worship Him.
God watches us and notices when His people are mistreated.
God watches us and notices when His people are mistreated.
Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Israel, and for four,
I will not revoke the punishment, because they sell the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of sandals— those who trample the head of the poor into the dust of the earth and turn aside the way of the afflicted . . . .” Amos 2:6-7aAmos 2:6-7a
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We will worship God by reflecting back to Him His character if we, too, watch and notice when someone is mistreated. Unfortunately, we usually only notice after one of our Christian friends or relatives complains. Even though we approach God in prayer when we are mistreated, He already knows. If we are to be like God, we will listen when someone tells us they are being mistreated, but we will also notice it when they are not aware they are being mistreated.
In our Christian Inner Circle where we have more informed relationships, we can see when a friend, family member, or spouse is mistreated by another Christian. We may even notice it before they do. All the better. Perhaps we can intervene before it gets worse.
Since we all come short of the mark in holiness, we will mistreat one another. It should not surprise us as much as it does. It is quite natural if we occasionally mistreat one another, but it is not okay. Thus, forbidding mistreatment of one another is often needed. Often the offending person does not think of what they are doing as mistreatment. They feel justified and we need to gently help them past excusing their unacceptable behavior.
A lot of mistreatment occurs because people do not know how to deal with problems calmly. In their confusion, people can do things they later wish they had not. Often we can stop mistreatment easily if we stay calm, remain non-judgmental, and ask what the offender wanted to accomplish by what he or she has been doing.
Forbidding mistreatment is valuable worship because it is costly love for God that requires the sacrifice of personal comfort. The reason that worshiping through forbidding mistreatment is personally expensive and emotionally risky is that it is often not welcome. Defensive anger is possible. Justifications for bad behaviors will have to be patiently destroyed. The uncertainty of how intervention will be received, no matter how gentle, makes taking action anxious and unsettling.
We cannot allow ourselves to remain addicted to easy obedience. All that God has done for us, especially having His Son crucified, was not easy. Since worship is reflecting back to God His own character, it will be necessary for us to do uncomfortable, difficult, risky things for His glory. Easier forms of worship are important, but worship that takes more commitment to God is a privilege to offer Him. Certainly, in light of Amos 5:21-24, it is more appreciated by Him.
A lot of hurtful behavior among Christians has to do with suspicions, gossip, and accusations that are not yet verified. We must remember that God does not speak falsely of anyone. Thus, if we keep from speaking falsely of others, we avoid mistreating someone and it is worship. Christians sometimes decide something is true without fulfilling the biblical injunction to check it out. To honor God by not bearing false witness against our neighbor , when we hear something about some other believer, we should check it out if it is serious or wait patiently for truth to come out if it endangers no one.
Once a woman came to me for emergency counseling who was under such distress that I was almost sure she was telling the truth. The important word here is “almost”. She was having an ongoing sexual affair with a visiting evangelist at a local church and felt trapped. I called the pastor of that church and he did what was right. He called other churches who had invited this evangelist in the past. Over half of the other pastors said that rumors existed of this behavior. A couple of them said they had to run the evangelist out of town. This pastor and I had worshiped God by dealing with the situation without slander. When the truth was confirmed, the evangelist was relieved of his duty and the conference cancelled discretely.
When a friend reports mistreatment from another friend, it can be handled appropriately. In larger fellowships such accusation might either not be a big enough problem or ignored because the accusation has no gentle way to be investigated sensitively. However, within a friendship group or Christian Inner Circle relationships are cemented by past fun social activities, sacrificial extensions of help, and other forms of practical love. This gives the right to question and determine if there is actual mistreatment to be corrected. Worship through forbidding mistreatment is possible in such friendships.
Families have some leverage to forbid mistreatment because family members cannot leave the relationship. If the family has been loving and experienced a lot of enjoyment together, then leverage is much stronger. When parents mistreat each other it is very difficult because help to stop mistreatment must come from the children. It takes a family very committed to God for children to correct mistreatment between dad and mom. But, such a family worships God magnanimously.
Marriages without children at home are probably the most vulnerable because they are without anyone present to see and help end mistreatment. Where there is mistreatment, one or both spouses are likely to get into a power struggle unknown to others, especially in Christian marriages where it is customary to project a righteous image publicly. It can only be hoped that such a marriage has close friends who are allowed to see what really goes on. In such a case worship is possible if the friends will speak up.
Let’s recognize that forbidding mistreatment is worship. Then we will pay attention rather than just overlook hurtful behavior.
How Used in Battle to Defeat Evil and Satan
In our Christian Inner Circle where we have more informed relationships, we can see when a friend, family member, or spouse is mistreated by another Christian. We may even notice it before they do. All the better. Perhaps we can intervene before it gets worse.
Since we all come short of the mark in holiness, we will mistreat one another. It should not surprise us as much as it does. It is quite natural if we occasionally mistreat one another, but it is not okay. Thus, forbidding mistreatment of one another is often needed. Often the offending person does not think of what they are doing as mistreatment. They feel justified and we need to gently help them past excusing their unacceptable behavior.
A lot of mistreatment occurs because people do not know how to deal with problems calmly. In their confusion, people can do things they later wish they had not. Often we can stop mistreatment easily if we stay calm, remain non-judgmental, and ask what the offender wanted to accomplish by what he or she has been doing.
Forbidding mistreatment is valuable worship because it is costly love for God that requires the sacrifice of personal comfort. The reason that worshiping through forbidding mistreatment is personally expensive and emotionally risky is that it is often not welcome. Defensive anger is possible. Justifications for bad behaviors will have to be patiently destroyed. The uncertainty of how intervention will be received, no matter how gentle, makes taking action anxious and unsettling.
We cannot allow ourselves to remain addicted to easy obedience. All that God has done for us, especially having His Son crucified, was not easy. Since worship is reflecting back to God His own character, it will be necessary for us to do uncomfortable, difficult, risky things for His glory. Easier forms of worship are important, but worship that takes more commitment to God is a privilege to offer Him. Certainly, in light of Amos 5:21-24, it is more appreciated by Him.
A lot of hurtful behavior among Christians has to do with suspicions, gossip, and accusations that are not yet verified. We must remember that God does not speak falsely of anyone. Thus, if we keep from speaking falsely of others, we avoid mistreating someone and it is worship. Christians sometimes decide something is true without fulfilling the biblical injunction to check it out. To honor God by not bearing false witness against our neighbor , when we hear something about some other believer, we should check it out if it is serious or wait patiently for truth to come out if it endangers no one.
Once a woman came to me for emergency counseling who was under such distress that I was almost sure she was telling the truth. The important word here is “almost”. She was having an ongoing sexual affair with a visiting evangelist at a local church and felt trapped. I called the pastor of that church and he did what was right. He called other churches who had invited this evangelist in the past. Over half of the other pastors said that rumors existed of this behavior. A couple of them said they had to run the evangelist out of town. This pastor and I had worshiped God by dealing with the situation without slander. When the truth was confirmed, the evangelist was relieved of his duty and the conference cancelled discretely.
When a friend reports mistreatment from another friend, it can be handled appropriately. In larger fellowships such accusation might either not be a big enough problem or ignored because the accusation has no gentle way to be investigated sensitively. However, within a friendship group or Christian Inner Circle relationships are cemented by past fun social activities, sacrificial extensions of help, and other forms of practical love. This gives the right to question and determine if there is actual mistreatment to be corrected. Worship through forbidding mistreatment is possible in such friendships.
Families have some leverage to forbid mistreatment because family members cannot leave the relationship. If the family has been loving and experienced a lot of enjoyment together, then leverage is much stronger. When parents mistreat each other it is very difficult because help to stop mistreatment must come from the children. It takes a family very committed to God for children to correct mistreatment between dad and mom. But, such a family worships God magnanimously.
Marriages without children at home are probably the most vulnerable because they are without anyone present to see and help end mistreatment. Where there is mistreatment, one or both spouses are likely to get into a power struggle unknown to others, especially in Christian marriages where it is customary to project a righteous image publicly. It can only be hoped that such a marriage has close friends who are allowed to see what really goes on. In such a case worship is possible if the friends will speak up.
Let’s recognize that forbidding mistreatment is worship. Then we will pay attention rather than just overlook hurtful behavior.
How Used in Battle to Defeat Evil and Satan
After meeting for a few years, a small group of Christians decided that they were mistreating one another by not being very concerned about one another’s spiritual growth. They had been studying the Bible together, but when one of the members asked how they were different than they were two years earlier, realization hit that they were not significantly different. They had learned truth, but when they asked one another what significant changes had occurred deep inside their spirits, there was not much for two years of weekly meetings. They decided something had to be changed.
A web search brought one member to the ChristiansTogether.org web site where 65 Togethers of Scripture were explained. Bible verses supporting things God wanted Christians to do when together made it clear that they were unintentionally holding some very valuable things from one another. They were mistreating God by not doing these things important to Him. And, they were mistreating one another by not doing these things that would change their spirits more into the image of Jesus. |
We all know that Satan wants us to mistreat one another. He especially wants to create division that prevents loving one another through the Scriptures that make up the Togethers. Forbidding mistreatment is hand-to-hand combat with God’s enemy.
As long as we think of church as someplace we go on Sundays or programs we participate in, we will not take seriously the danger posed by the devil. Larger fellowships cannot delve into the Togethers beyond simplicity. Therefore, we must be stubborn in perceiving “church” as Christians in close relationship together with God and with one another. When we do, we will be able to see when the devil’s influence has led to disaster in broken Christian friendships, family relationships, and marriages. Division in these building blocks of the church shuts down growth in our spirits. When there is mistreatment in our closer relationships, we cease significant change into the image of Jesus Christ, ignore significant glorification of God through relationship worship, and forget about significant preparation for heaven.
Nothing can ruin relationships like a betrayal of trust. Christians are particularly vulnerable when requesting prayer for someone not present. It seems right to ask others to pray for the problem of another. But, what if the person who mentioned the problem wanted it to stay confidential and not to be passed on, even in a prayer request. Something as good-hearted as a prayer request on behalf of another can break trust if the person with the problem is not asked if information can be shared with others who might pray. Surprisingly, we need to curb such mistreatment.
Another thing on the wish-list of the devil is pride expressing itself as superiority.
As long as we think of church as someplace we go on Sundays or programs we participate in, we will not take seriously the danger posed by the devil. Larger fellowships cannot delve into the Togethers beyond simplicity. Therefore, we must be stubborn in perceiving “church” as Christians in close relationship together with God and with one another. When we do, we will be able to see when the devil’s influence has led to disaster in broken Christian friendships, family relationships, and marriages. Division in these building blocks of the church shuts down growth in our spirits. When there is mistreatment in our closer relationships, we cease significant change into the image of Jesus Christ, ignore significant glorification of God through relationship worship, and forget about significant preparation for heaven.
Nothing can ruin relationships like a betrayal of trust. Christians are particularly vulnerable when requesting prayer for someone not present. It seems right to ask others to pray for the problem of another. But, what if the person who mentioned the problem wanted it to stay confidential and not to be passed on, even in a prayer request. Something as good-hearted as a prayer request on behalf of another can break trust if the person with the problem is not asked if information can be shared with others who might pray. Surprisingly, we need to curb such mistreatment.
Another thing on the wish-list of the devil is pride expressing itself as superiority.
Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Gal 5:26
Gal 5:26
Working together to forbid mistreatment, we must react with loving firmness whenever we see someone acting with an arrogant, superior attitude. Such behavior is mistreatment in its implied devaluation of others. It can provoke defensiveness in a person who is insecure about his or her value. Or, a superior attitude can create envy in another, making them unhappy with what God has assigned to be their strengths.
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Eph 4:29-32
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There is another way of discounting other Christians, and that is related to the big problem of individualistic faith which communicates by words and behavior that others are not needed for one’s walk with God.
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.
1 Cor 12:21-26
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How hurtful to be discounted and treated as though not needed. This is mistreatment of one another that is pervasive. Christian community is defined in terms of fellowship, not usefulness. We have to stop this unintentional mistreatment. True community happens when Christians are much more useful in one another’s lives than mere social contact.
Ultimately, the greatest mistreatment of one another is to withhold love. Since Jesus commanded love for one another as He loved His disciples (John 14:21), downgrading the Togethers which define the love Jesus had for His closest friends is horrible mistreatment. Minimizing Christian relationships to friendliness is a disgrace to the concept of biblical love which is self-denial for the good of others (agape love). The Togethers, representing hundreds of Bible instructions on loving one another and helping one another’s spirits grow, need to be more than studied. They need to become lifestyle in our Christian Inner Circles. Anything less is mistreatment of one another, which we are to forbid.
It is far easier to think of mistreatment of one another as insulting each other, taking advantage of one another’s generosity, and the like. These we can avoid with only a little effort. Important as they are, we need to begin realizing that it is great mistreatment to ignore our main purpose for being together – to love one another and help one another conform our spirits to that of Jesus.
If you can see how delighted Satan is when we hurt one another, then imagine how ecstatic is the devil when we withhold love and our spirits stagnate. What more could he ask for than we mistreat one another by ignoring why we are in the faith together. We must not let faith together be reduced to less personal politeness and church services and programs. We need to put much effort in helping one another have their spirits changed to be more like Jesus, worship God more, defeat the devil, and prepare for heaven.
We don’t want Satan happy! Therefore, let’s not let one another be mistreated. Let’s start acting like real family, not just calling ourselves “the family of faith”. Let love flow rather than mistreating one another by ignoring the depth of our responsibility to one another in faith together. Everyone in our Christian Inner Circles has a birthright from their second birth for love of tremendously higher quality than unbelievers receive. The Togethers are the blueprint for such life-changing love.
How in the Sinful Environment this Together Prepares Us for Heaven
Ultimately, the greatest mistreatment of one another is to withhold love. Since Jesus commanded love for one another as He loved His disciples (John 14:21), downgrading the Togethers which define the love Jesus had for His closest friends is horrible mistreatment. Minimizing Christian relationships to friendliness is a disgrace to the concept of biblical love which is self-denial for the good of others (agape love). The Togethers, representing hundreds of Bible instructions on loving one another and helping one another’s spirits grow, need to be more than studied. They need to become lifestyle in our Christian Inner Circles. Anything less is mistreatment of one another, which we are to forbid.
It is far easier to think of mistreatment of one another as insulting each other, taking advantage of one another’s generosity, and the like. These we can avoid with only a little effort. Important as they are, we need to begin realizing that it is great mistreatment to ignore our main purpose for being together – to love one another and help one another conform our spirits to that of Jesus.
If you can see how delighted Satan is when we hurt one another, then imagine how ecstatic is the devil when we withhold love and our spirits stagnate. What more could he ask for than we mistreat one another by ignoring why we are in the faith together. We must not let faith together be reduced to less personal politeness and church services and programs. We need to put much effort in helping one another have their spirits changed to be more like Jesus, worship God more, defeat the devil, and prepare for heaven.
We don’t want Satan happy! Therefore, let’s not let one another be mistreated. Let’s start acting like real family, not just calling ourselves “the family of faith”. Let love flow rather than mistreating one another by ignoring the depth of our responsibility to one another in faith together. Everyone in our Christian Inner Circles has a birthright from their second birth for love of tremendously higher quality than unbelievers receive. The Togethers are the blueprint for such life-changing love.
How in the Sinful Environment this Together Prepares Us for Heaven
I heard of a friend’s church across town where one of the most godly men was repeatedly turned down in his desire to be an elder because he held different ideas than the entrenched pastor and church leaders. My friend and others had watched this mistreatment for years. We would occasionally discuss this at work during lunch hour.
Then one day in my Bible reading I discovered that Christians are to forbid mistreatment of other Christians. This was a concern in the early church, and here it was at my friend’s church. First chance I got, I told my friend that she needed to do something about the favoritism in her church. At first, she mildly told me to mind my own business. Since we had a long friendship cemented by working together in a secular environment and years of praying for one another, I answered that it was my business because it was God’s business. In a subsequent lunch meeting my friend asked why she should stick out her neck and expose herself to conflict with her church leadership. It was then that I talked to her about getting ourselves ready for heaven. I asked, “Do you want to go to heaven with just mediocre ability to care for people, to only be able care for them if your have to or as long as it does not cost you much?” There was a long pause and I added, “Don’t you want to care about people in heaven in ways that count? Don’t you think God wants His heaven to be the most caring place in the universe?” It took a while for my friend to build up the courage to confront the leaders of her church. But, once she understood how doing so would help the faithful man being ignored for leadership as well as how it would build her spirit, she gathered up a few of her church friends for tea one Saturday morning and invited me to come and challenge them to forbid mistreatment. They developed a strategy to stop the church from mistreating this good man. When they exerted themselves, they found themselves spurned by church leadership and became unpopular. This only made them more determined. They prayed more fervently. They kept challenging church leaders biblically. Eventually the Lord helped and the pastor retired. The new pastor heard them out and things changed. The man for whom they had advocated became an elder. From this the church greatly benefitted. I did too, for my small part in forbidding mistreatment. I know that the whole experience expanded my ability to care both for the man mistreated and for the spiritual growth of others to live for the Lord courageously. |
Remembering that heaven is primarily about relationships, caring deeply for others should become high priority
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.
1 Peter 1:22
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If this instruction from the Bible is for life on this earth, it must be even more so for life in heaven where love will be the uninterrupted way of life. Therefore, we should want to go to heaven with as great a head start in heart-love as possible. Love from the heart is active and erupts from our spirits. So, anything that can develop our spirits toward sincere love expressed in caring that requires unusual effort is quite valuable.
Forbidding one another from being mistreated develops our spirits to have greater capacity to care for other people. To not just shake our heads in sadness or disgust, but to intervene in some way to stop mistreatment requires more than average love. It means sticking our neck out for others and risking getting hurt ourselves.
Hopefully, Christian Inner Circles and organized churches will bend over backwards for those in need, especially those who cannot easily or effectively speak up for themselves, perhaps out of unnecessary shame for their plight.
Forbidding one another from being mistreated develops our spirits to have greater capacity to care for other people. To not just shake our heads in sadness or disgust, but to intervene in some way to stop mistreatment requires more than average love. It means sticking our neck out for others and risking getting hurt ourselves.
Hopefully, Christian Inner Circles and organized churches will bend over backwards for those in need, especially those who cannot easily or effectively speak up for themselves, perhaps out of unnecessary shame for their plight.
Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute.
Prov 31:8
Prov 31:8
But, what about speaking up for those who are being mistreated by governmental bureaucrats? We can become advocates for any Christian we know who needs access to services for which we pay taxes. And, if there are no Christians in such need, there are many outside of the faith who need someone objective to stand up for them.
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people,
especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Gal 6:10 (NIV)
especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
Gal 6:10 (NIV)
Surely we can see how battling social service and justice institutions on behalf of those not able to do so will expand our ability to love and change our spirits for stronger caring for others in heaven. It will be tough, and success will likely be infrequent. The difficulty and likely defeat will be the resistance that produces growth in caring and our spirits for greater selfless love.
Yet, in heaven there will be no one mistreated, no one without the basic necessities of life, no one unfairly slandered, or any of the thousand others ways people are now mistreated. So, how will a greater ability to care be applicable to our future lives in heaven?
The answer is that caring is not only for bad times.
A friend’s granddaughter is in a school play. There is just the friend and her single-parent daughter to attend and make the girl in the high school play feel supported and appreciated. Knowing this, some of us in the grandmother’s Christian Inner Circle decide to forego other pleasures to attend the play. This is greater than normal caring. And this kind of caring will be needed in the wonderful society of God’s heaven.
It is easier to imagine that a Christian who has advocated for a delinquent on probation with an unresponsive school system will attend the high school play than one who has not stood up against mistreatment. Caring will have grown in that believer’s spirit to such an extent that cancelling some desired activity to support the friend and her granddaughter will come spontaneously.
This illustrates how forbidding mistreatment will equip us to be more caring in heaven. Others throughout eternity will benefit from caring in the form of encouragement, interest, affirmation, and other forms of loving nurture. We should want our spirits to grow in godly caring. Forbidding mistreatment will contribute to this spiritual growth.
Caring is something that can grow in heaven, but nothing like it can grow now with sin as its opponent. Let’s get ourselves ready to enter heaven with strong ability to care about what goes on in the eternal lives of others. Let’s search out opportunities to forbid mistreatment.
How this Together Can Make It Really Good in Heaven
Yet, in heaven there will be no one mistreated, no one without the basic necessities of life, no one unfairly slandered, or any of the thousand others ways people are now mistreated. So, how will a greater ability to care be applicable to our future lives in heaven?
The answer is that caring is not only for bad times.
A friend’s granddaughter is in a school play. There is just the friend and her single-parent daughter to attend and make the girl in the high school play feel supported and appreciated. Knowing this, some of us in the grandmother’s Christian Inner Circle decide to forego other pleasures to attend the play. This is greater than normal caring. And this kind of caring will be needed in the wonderful society of God’s heaven.
It is easier to imagine that a Christian who has advocated for a delinquent on probation with an unresponsive school system will attend the high school play than one who has not stood up against mistreatment. Caring will have grown in that believer’s spirit to such an extent that cancelling some desired activity to support the friend and her granddaughter will come spontaneously.
This illustrates how forbidding mistreatment will equip us to be more caring in heaven. Others throughout eternity will benefit from caring in the form of encouragement, interest, affirmation, and other forms of loving nurture. We should want our spirits to grow in godly caring. Forbidding mistreatment will contribute to this spiritual growth.
Caring is something that can grow in heaven, but nothing like it can grow now with sin as its opponent. Let’s get ourselves ready to enter heaven with strong ability to care about what goes on in the eternal lives of others. Let’s search out opportunities to forbid mistreatment.
How this Together Can Make It Really Good in Heaven
Before death I cared for people greatly and went out on a limb for the good of others. I rescued Christian women who were being abused and arranged for their care while they got on their feet financially or their husbands proved that they had changed. And, of course, I knew the joy of caring for my grandchildren in the way of being supportive of and encouraging them.
I had never thought of the adventure here in heaven that comes from caring for others. I did not know that lending visions for spiritual growth, outdoor activities, and indoor creative opportunities would make caring so much fun! In fact, seeing other citizens of heaven try things just because I pointed out a new opportunity or placed courage into them to try something daring is much more exciting than I ever imagined, often better than doing those things myself. I should have known. This was the way with my children and grandchildren. I always had more passion for them than for my own enjoyments. |
Imagine going to heaven with a greater capacity to care about the heavenly experiences of others. All of us will feel relief from the tendency to focus on ourselves. Many who had few friends because they were so much more concerned about their own things will be set free by entering through heaven’s gates. While they will no longer be so concerned about their own goals or their discomfort, they will still be unpracticed in observing with deeper caring what is going on in the lives of others. They will begin growing in that area little by little. Yet, it is sad that back in the world of sin they did not carefully watch out for others, especially that they not be mistreated. Their spirits could have grown exponentially into the likeness of Jesus in the ability to care deeply with sincere love.
Imagine the greater joy at the beginning of heavenly experience if right away our spirits are able to notice and care more deeply about others. When we find pleasure mostly in our own activities, we miss a lot of life. We take one vacation a year, for example, and enjoy the time and the memories. If we can be more focused on what is going on in the lives of others, we can add joy to our lives for each of their vacations.
There are those who enter a new job and are so concerned about themselves that they do not know how to reach out to others. Then there are those who have escaped self-protective habits and right away show interest in others in their new workplace. When we enter heaven, each of us will be somewhere along this spectrum.
Forbidding mistreatment pushes us to care more deeply and observe more carefully what is happening in the lives of others. Because it is uncomfortable and somewhat painful to take notice of mistreatment of those we care about, our spirits will get stronger by resisting the temptation to look the other way. Individually, we might not win this contest with sin, but because we are to face temptation together, we can stand against people mistreating others together with those in our closest Christian relationships.
Imagine in heaven, with its thousands of opportunities in relationships and activities, the elation of caring what wonderful things happen in the lives of those we live near or meet in worship or on adventures. As colors will undoubtedly be more vibrant without the smog of sin that dulls them now, so caring will be bursting with exhilarating joy. Just as now we await the return home of one of our children’s families or friends on vacation to hear their stories, in heaven we will do the same, but in higher definition than now possible.
Our ability to care more deeply because of forbidding mistreatment and other ways to such growth in our spirits will make it completely exciting to hear of a person’s meeting with Jesus, whenever and however it happened. Because we will be able to care so much more about what is happening in other people’s lives, we will be rushing here and there to listen to this story and the next.
Another possible enhancement of life in heaven should be mentioned. Those who worked hard to stop mistreatment of others will feel tremendous relief that in heaven such difficult effort is not needed. A portion of joy will be added to that believer’s eternal life in heaven.
Let’s look forward to a new dynamic of caring for other people in heaven because we did not let one another be mistreated.
Opportunity for a Closer Relationship with God through Empathy
Imagine the greater joy at the beginning of heavenly experience if right away our spirits are able to notice and care more deeply about others. When we find pleasure mostly in our own activities, we miss a lot of life. We take one vacation a year, for example, and enjoy the time and the memories. If we can be more focused on what is going on in the lives of others, we can add joy to our lives for each of their vacations.
There are those who enter a new job and are so concerned about themselves that they do not know how to reach out to others. Then there are those who have escaped self-protective habits and right away show interest in others in their new workplace. When we enter heaven, each of us will be somewhere along this spectrum.
Forbidding mistreatment pushes us to care more deeply and observe more carefully what is happening in the lives of others. Because it is uncomfortable and somewhat painful to take notice of mistreatment of those we care about, our spirits will get stronger by resisting the temptation to look the other way. Individually, we might not win this contest with sin, but because we are to face temptation together, we can stand against people mistreating others together with those in our closest Christian relationships.
Imagine in heaven, with its thousands of opportunities in relationships and activities, the elation of caring what wonderful things happen in the lives of those we live near or meet in worship or on adventures. As colors will undoubtedly be more vibrant without the smog of sin that dulls them now, so caring will be bursting with exhilarating joy. Just as now we await the return home of one of our children’s families or friends on vacation to hear their stories, in heaven we will do the same, but in higher definition than now possible.
Our ability to care more deeply because of forbidding mistreatment and other ways to such growth in our spirits will make it completely exciting to hear of a person’s meeting with Jesus, whenever and however it happened. Because we will be able to care so much more about what is happening in other people’s lives, we will be rushing here and there to listen to this story and the next.
Another possible enhancement of life in heaven should be mentioned. Those who worked hard to stop mistreatment of others will feel tremendous relief that in heaven such difficult effort is not needed. A portion of joy will be added to that believer’s eternal life in heaven.
Let’s look forward to a new dynamic of caring for other people in heaven because we did not let one another be mistreated.
Opportunity for a Closer Relationship with God through Empathy
I keep getting these gifts from God every so often. It is wonderful, but so many of my friends are not getting presents. They are not envious because there is no covetousness in heaven and because I always share the gifts with them. Yet, we are all curious why such gifts are coming to me.
For months we have been comparing the nature of our journeys with Jesus in that long-ago life before death. So far, what stands out is that I was very active in forbidding mistreatment of troubled Christians. Actually, I had a ministry that attracted those who did not seem to fit in with typical churches. Because they struggled with broken lives they had not found acceptance and felt various degrees of condemnation. I and a few others gave them love and, more importantly, helped them experience God’s love. To check whether this might be the reason for the gifts from the Throne, I have been in touch with some of the others who worked with me in that ministry to struggling believers. I am finding out that they, too, are receiving gifts. |
Forbidding mistreatment in God’s flock will be appreciated by Him now and in heaven. How that gratitude will be shown is unknown, but creative recognition will be shown by our God.
We know that Jesus wanted His followers to be watched over as a shepherd watches his sheep.
We know that Jesus wanted His followers to be watched over as a shepherd watches his sheep.
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep."
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John 21:15-17
Three times! Doesn’t that show us how much our Lord wants the members of His church watched over? How grateful is the Owner of the sheep of those who feed and tend them. Those who keep them from hurting one another or being hurt by predators will be especially praised.
If we had a child who was continually picked on at school and a friend came into his or her life and put a stop to it, how might be show our appreciation? For starters, we would praise that child for stopping the mistreatment. Perhaps at Christmas we would give a gift to that friend, but not necessarily to other friends of our son or daughter.
It might be that Jesus will give special gifts in heaven to those who forbade mistreatment of His sheep.
If we had a child who was continually picked on at school and a friend came into his or her life and put a stop to it, how might be show our appreciation? For starters, we would praise that child for stopping the mistreatment. Perhaps at Christmas we would give a gift to that friend, but not necessarily to other friends of our son or daughter.
It might be that Jesus will give special gifts in heaven to those who forbade mistreatment of His sheep.
But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it says,
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“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men.” [Ps 68:18]
Eph 4:7-8
Whatever special recognition and closeness God will bless us with if we forbid mistreatment of one another, let’s desire it in heaven for eternity. Let’s make more effort to watch over one another and see that none of us are mistreated either by harmful words and actions or by being sheep not tended with the Togethers that bring growth in our spirits.
Praise and Prayer Regarding this Together
O God who watches over us and prevents mistreatment that we never even discover, help me and those in my Christian Inner Circle to worship You by forbidding mistreatment of others. Let us see through the eyes of the Holy Spirit wherever there is injustice, favoritism, slander, or any other harmful thing to prevent or stop.
I and those in my Christian Inner Circle will need Your help to grow our spirits to love enough to forbid mistreatment of other Christians. Help us to yield to the work of the Holy Spirit for all of us to give You more glory in the way we watch out for Your children.
Please help us all to become more like Jesus and see that mistreatment of other Christians, especially those in our Christian Inner Circle, is prevented or stopped. Jesus’ love ran deep, so may our love run deep enough to stick our necks out to see that other Christians are not abused or mistreated sinfully.
May our lives worship You more because we reflect Your way of keeping us from mistreating one another by telling us how we should live together. Help us to step in and teach those who are mistreating others or planning to do so how God wants things done.
Make us strong in Your power to defeat the devil by thwarting his encouragement for us to mistreat one another, take advantage of one another, accuse unfairly, judge one another, and so many other hurtful actions. Satan is out to divide us, so make us courageous in looking for mistreatment and acting against it, often employing other Togethers of Scripture.
Help us all to prepare for heaven by growing more completely to love and care for others. Don’t let any of those in my Christian Inner Circle go to heaven without spirits released from only looking out for themselves.
Ever increasing practice of the Togethers of Scripture will (1) create in you the loving essence of Jesus, (2) give Jesus the kind of love He requested, (3) provide you with the most significant spiritual lifestyle which is attainable only through Christian community, (4) offer significant worship to God by reflecting his own character back to him through your behavior, and (5) bring God’s kingdom to earth as asked for in the Lord’s Prayer. And for heaven, such growing obedience to Scripture now will later (6) qualify you for a more responsible place of service as reward in heaven, and, (7) most important of all, give you greater empathy with God for a closer relationship with Him for all of eternity.
Praise and Prayer Regarding this Together
O God who watches over us and prevents mistreatment that we never even discover, help me and those in my Christian Inner Circle to worship You by forbidding mistreatment of others. Let us see through the eyes of the Holy Spirit wherever there is injustice, favoritism, slander, or any other harmful thing to prevent or stop.
I and those in my Christian Inner Circle will need Your help to grow our spirits to love enough to forbid mistreatment of other Christians. Help us to yield to the work of the Holy Spirit for all of us to give You more glory in the way we watch out for Your children.
Please help us all to become more like Jesus and see that mistreatment of other Christians, especially those in our Christian Inner Circle, is prevented or stopped. Jesus’ love ran deep, so may our love run deep enough to stick our necks out to see that other Christians are not abused or mistreated sinfully.
May our lives worship You more because we reflect Your way of keeping us from mistreating one another by telling us how we should live together. Help us to step in and teach those who are mistreating others or planning to do so how God wants things done.
Make us strong in Your power to defeat the devil by thwarting his encouragement for us to mistreat one another, take advantage of one another, accuse unfairly, judge one another, and so many other hurtful actions. Satan is out to divide us, so make us courageous in looking for mistreatment and acting against it, often employing other Togethers of Scripture.
Help us all to prepare for heaven by growing more completely to love and care for others. Don’t let any of those in my Christian Inner Circle go to heaven without spirits released from only looking out for themselves.
Ever increasing practice of the Togethers of Scripture will (1) create in you the loving essence of Jesus, (2) give Jesus the kind of love He requested, (3) provide you with the most significant spiritual lifestyle which is attainable only through Christian community, (4) offer significant worship to God by reflecting his own character back to him through your behavior, and (5) bring God’s kingdom to earth as asked for in the Lord’s Prayer. And for heaven, such growing obedience to Scripture now will later (6) qualify you for a more responsible place of service as reward in heaven, and, (7) most important of all, give you greater empathy with God for a closer relationship with Him for all of eternity.