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April 28, 2011

I'm fine... Really I am

"If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him - work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you've made a friend." Matthew 18:15

How many of us have been hurt by our friends or fellow believers? How many of us have told those friends that we weren't hurt? This isn't the way it should be. First of all I'd like to think we can all live by Ephesians 4:29 but unfortunately that's not always the case.

Have you ever been joking around with a friend and then they (or you) take it one step too far? They say something that really hurts you in a personal way. Yet most of the time you say nothing. You don't tell them that they hurt you, that they offended you... you just sit there and think all day about how mean they were being.

Believe me I've been there and am there a lot! But man, it's just not right! That verse above says it all: If you're hurt, don't keep it to yourself! I have from time to time hurt people with my words. I joke around a lot. First let me say if I've hurt YOU I am sorry. That was most likely not my intent. Second, if I or anyone for that matter has hurt you GO TO THEM!!! Don't let it turn into something so much bigger than it should be.

Jesus said the world will know we follow Him by how much we love each other (John 13:35). Yet many times we are caught offended, angry, and hurt by our bro's and sisters... In fact most of the time we tell everyone about our offense except the person who offended us. They usually never know or find out through the grape vine. Once again going back to the verse above we see that we should go to someone who hurts us and be honest about it.

Nothing makes me more frustrated than when someone gets really hurt and then when asked, "Hey did I hurt you?" they answer saying, "No... I'm fine... Really I am." I'm telling you: that is a cancer that will grow and grow until it consumes every part of you! Unfortunately I have experienced this from both sides.

Bottom line is this... in fact I can't put it better than the way Jesus said it so again: "If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him - work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you've made a friend."

Please follow this and let's stand together!

2 comments:

Joy@WDDCH said...

I just think it's too bad when you are hurt and you DO go to someone to talk about it and they brush you off or tell you that it isn't Scriptural to "hold on to things". We have to deal with things and God gave us emotions and feelings for a reason.

I think you know exactly what I'm talking about. And it isn't said with any bitterness but more of sadness because great friendships and connections were lost.

sds said...

Good stuff! I'm sort of the momma hen in my group of friends (man, why are they all so YOUNG?), so I feel like I'm always slapping wrists on this subject. But it's true. We need to have a little faith that relationships born in the Spirit can survive criticisms and honesty. Relationships born in the flesh, though, have a harder time recovering. They exist to please us in one way or another, not to challenge us. And just like anything born in the flesh, it will eventually die.

Thanks for checking out Maywood, Dan! I watched the video you have on Reverbnation. You have a lovely voice! Glad to be acquainted with you there and here.

Sarah Driskell Sheldon