Well then, God brought this person into my life over a year ago - July 2009 when she first invested and started hitting the forums under many user names. Many friendships have been sabatoged by her on the way. Should someone say something? Hmmm .. that's the dilemma.This is a Test: 'Bad People' - God Put Them There Just For Us ...
In every one of our lives there are people who mess with our minds and hearts. Believe it or not, God put them there. They're there for our benefit.
This is no crazy talk. It can be backed up biblically via examples from Joseph to Jesus. Although the Apostle Paul talked about his "thorn in the flesh," that "messenger of Satan" that was sent to buffet him (2 Corinthians 12:7-10), he too knew full well that the truth is God allows these people and challenging situations in our lives for our betterment.
This is Wonderful News
We are not at all very apt at seeing the silver lining to our very near and resplendently dark thunder clouds, are we?
We will most usually struggle to see the 'good news' in people who've set their hearts and minds against us, to expose or depose us. But, if it wasn't for these people we wouldn't have the opportunities to meet the challenges that God knows we can meet. We'd miss vital growth junctures that are part of our God-willed destiny. We can see it as God forming us via eternal discipline.
The writer of Hebrews hit on this very point:
No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening - it's painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.
~Hebrews 12:11 (NLT).
The point is we have to allow ourselves to be trained in this way. It comes natural to no one.
An Exercise in Execution
We cannot get better at spiritual practice without applying it. We need to get our minds and hearts involved in the practice of new ways of living if we're to master them.
Perhaps this exercise in question - seeing a nemesis as someone sent from the very hand of God - is best accomplished in spending some time reflecting over the role one of these people has played, and is indeed playing in our lives perhaps now.
This is the practice, it is hoped, toward spiritual enlightenment whereby God might tip into us some level of his own holy revelation. We might consequently begin to see the overall purpose of this evil against us in conforming from it, goodness.
The point is we have to allow ourselves to be trained in this way. It comes natural to no one.
An Exercise in Execution
We cannot get better at spiritual practice without applying it. We need to get our minds and hearts involved in the practice of new ways of living if we're to master them.
Perhaps this exercise in question - seeing a nemesis as someone sent from the very hand of God - is best accomplished in spending some time reflecting over the role one of these people has played, and is indeed playing in our lives perhaps now.
This is the practice, it is hoped, toward spiritual enlightenment whereby God might tip into us some level of his own holy revelation. We might consequently begin to see the overall purpose of this evil against us in conforming from it, goodness.
Examples
If someone is bullying us our opportunity is to learn how to respond in assertiveness, and not match their fire with our own aggression, or submissive behaviour.
If another person has betrayed our trust our opportunity is to practice forgiveness, and learn classic lessons about trust, as well as learning some sense of empathy for why there was a betrayal in the first place.
If we've been disappointed by a lack of opportunity we're now given the opportunity to work through the present issues and develop resilience and patience. It's also an opportunity to reassess goals.
There is always a silver lining and we're blessed to seek vision of it.
If someone is bullying us our opportunity is to learn how to respond in assertiveness, and not match their fire with our own aggression, or submissive behaviour.
If another person has betrayed our trust our opportunity is to practice forgiveness, and learn classic lessons about trust, as well as learning some sense of empathy for why there was a betrayal in the first place.
If we've been disappointed by a lack of opportunity we're now given the opportunity to work through the present issues and develop resilience and patience. It's also an opportunity to reassess goals.
There is always a silver lining and we're blessed to seek vision of it.
Stepping back and understanding that this is an emotionally unbalanced person should create a feeling of empathy.
unknown author
What does the Bible say about lying?
Col 3:9-10
9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, 10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him
Lev 19:12
12'And you shall not swear falsely by My name, so as to profane the name of your God; I am the LORD.
Prov 25:18
18 Like a club and a sword and a sharp arrow Is a man who bears false witness against his neighbor.
Zech 8:17
17'Also let none of you devise evil in your heart against another, and do not love perjury; for all these are what I hate,' declares the LORD. "
Prov 14:5
5 A faithful witness will not lie, But a false witness speaks lies.
1 Kings 22:16
16 Then the king said to him, "How many times must I adjure you to speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD?"
Prov 19:5
5 A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who tells lies will not escape.
Deut 19:17-19
17 then both the men who have the dispute shall stand before the LORD, before the priests and the judges who will be in office in those days.
18 And the judges shall investigate thoroughly; and if the witness is a false witness and he has accused his brother falsely,
19 then you shall do to him just as he had intended to do to his brother. Thus you shall purge the evil from among you.
Rev 21:8
8 "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."
Prov 19:9
9 A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who tells lies will perish.
Prov 24:28
28 Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, And do not deceive with your lips.
Ps 58:3
3 The wicked are estranged from the womb; These who speak lies go astray from birth.
James 3:14
14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth.
Ex 23:1
1 "You shall not bear a false report; do not join your hand with a wicked man to be a malicious witness.
Prov 12:19
19 Truthful lips will be established forever, But a lying tongue is only for a moment.
