Date: July 30, 2024 (T).
References:
Luke 23:34; Matthew 16:24-27; Matthew 27:15-26; Acts 7:54-60; Revelation 6:9-11; John 8:29; John 13:16; John 15:18-25; John 17:14-26; Hebrews 11:6.
An abused animal (e.g. a cat, a dog) is more likely to be aggressive and cautiously ill-tempered with a human stranger than an animal who is/was not abused previously, when a human interacts with them. The human might be trying to be friendly to the abused animal, or trying to feed it, but the abused animal thinks the human is out to harm them, just as another human abused them previously, many times before. This type of abused animal behavior can be vouched for by many animal trainers, handlers and veterinarians at pet shelters across the world.
A similar behavior is also seen in many human beings as well.
If a person is hurt emotionally, being abused, or has been abused in the past in any form or way, they are more likely to hurt others in the long term than those who are not hurting emotionally (mentally). Such a person might be more aggressive or irritable toward others when approached or confronted with a problem. And such a person might act out their aggressive, irritable behavior toward their loved ones, friends, colleagues and make life difficult for others unnecessarily. Behaviors such as bad temper, use of foul language, rudeness, lack of empathy, rebellion, destructive attitude, violence, are some of the ways they act out their insecurities, hurt, trauma that’s inside of them, in their life, in public, at work or at home.
Emotional pain (emotional trauma) is something a person can carry with them for a long time, especially if it was a very traumatic experience for them. Such pain is difficult to forget sometimes, because their heart, soul, spirit and mind hurt a lot when the pain was inflicted upon them. Some emotional pain takes longer to heal than physical pain. And for some people, even after a long time, their pain hasn’t completely gone away. It is only forgotten, because they’ve suppressed it deep down within them.
G-D heals and comforts us in our pain. Every type of pain.
G-D heals us with His love. JESUS pours out His love for us, and we receive it through the power of the H-LY SPIRIT, Who lives in us. JESUS’s love is healing rain, cleansing our hearts, minds, souls, and spirits of all our pain and wiping it all away.
G-D sees your pain – all your physical pain and your emotional pain. But know this: JESUS is right there with you, always. He sees all the wrong done to you. He knows your innocence. He knows the pain you are going through. He sees the abuse. He sees your brokenness. He sees your trauma. He is right beside you.
G-D is a G-D of justice. And there will be justice in your life, in this world. Don’t fret.
There will be justice in G-Ds time. So don’t take the law into your own hands and hurt others in the process of your hurting, your healing. Self-defense is okay. Running away to escape the abuse is okay. Taking shelter far away from the abuse is okay. Just don’t take revenge on the person who hurt you. Don’t let the abuse you face(d) turn into hatred. Don’t inflict pain on others around you. Don’t hurt other people as you have been hurt. Choose to forgive others even when it hurts. Choose to forgive others and move on in life. Choose to love others just as CHRIST has loved you and forgiven you of your sins.
You are not alone in your sufferings; JESUS is with you always (SEE John 8:29).
There will be justice for you one day, don’t worry. Either in this life or in the next life, the person who abused you, hurt you, will pay for their sins done against you. G-D will make sure of it, the Bible teaches. No one will ever escape the sins they’ve committed in this life, in G-Ds sight. That’s why the Bible teaches, every knee will bow, every tongue will confess, that JESUS CHRIST is L-RD (SEE Philippians 2:9-11). Every knee will be forced to bow and obey JESUS and come to terms with his/her sins, whether they acknowledged JESUS on earth or not, whether they admitted and repented of their sins on earth or not. This is the promise of G-D to all mankind. This is the true and final justice upon and for all mankind. No sin goes unpunished, whether they were committed by a Christian or not.
Don’t let hatred get in the way of your healing. Don’t let anger get in the way of your healing. Don’t let any anger, hatred, bitterness and the quest for revenge poison your life. Don’t drink this poison and kill your own soul. Don’t look for social justice (through lawyers, through the courts). It doesn’t satisfy. It doesn’t bring healing; it doesn’t bring true justice to you.
SEE song 1: There will be a day – Jeremy Camp – [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPKyTY71iRM].
Don’t let an issue in your life get to court; settle out of court if possible. Don’t pursue an issue legally, if possible. Don’t be the one to threaten others with legal notices or lawsuits. Keep away from getting involved with law enforcement and courts at all times in life, it is never a good experience. Life is unjust sometimes; life is unfair sometimes. We just have to accept it and move on in life. Don’t let any of the injustices you’ve faced in life come between your relationship with G-D MOST HIGH, ever. Don’t waste your money on lawyers and think lawyers will defend you in court and correct an injustice done to you. Sometimes, justice is not blind as they say and think it is. Justice on earth can be partial, unfulfilling.
Justice is partial because of corrupt politics, bribery and a lack of fear of G-D, His laws, His Words in the judicial system. But G-D sees all of this too; G-D definitely knows it. So don’t be a part of the justice system or get involved with anyone seeking justice through the courts. Settle out of court and move on in life. The sooner the issue is resolved with the abuser, the better it is. The sooner the problem makes its way out of your life, the better for you. The sooner the problem maker is out of your life, the faster you can move on with a new life. And you never have to see your abuser ever again, G-D willing.
G-D will help you with your case. G-D will solve the issues that came up in your life – all the injustices, all the abuse, all the hurt, all the pain, all the losses. If there is any physical abuse, seek shelter with someone you trust.
Every believer in CHRIST is called to take up his/her cross, daily, and follow JESUS (SEE Matthew 16:24-27). Christian living is about forgiving others and loving others, even when it hurts. Every Christian who is a CHRIST follower and believer needs to know how to deal with pain, sorrow, sadness, hurt, misery in their life.
JESUS suffered on the Cross of Calvary for you. He was betrayed by one of His twelve disciples. His own younger brothers (siblings) didn’t believe JESUS was the CHRIST (Messiah) for many years, even after telling them He was the Son of G-D. JESUS was betrayed by one of His own disciples, whom He had handpicked at the beginning of His ministry, who was His follower for three consecutive years. JESUS knows pain. JESUS knows sufferings. JESUS knows betrayal. Yet, He sinned not against G-D MOST HIGH, our Father in Heaven.
Was JESUS mistaken to pick Judas Iscariot as His disciple? No, never! This was G-Ds will for JESUS, that JESUS mighty suffer for mankind. And through His sufferings, JESUS would show to the world that He knows what it means to be human, and yet, JESUS never sin against G-D MOST HIGH. That’s why JESUS is the perfect example for us – a Man without sin, the perfect sacrificial Lamb.
If JESUS didn’t call down His angel armies to defend Him, fight for Him, when He was falsely imprisoned, falsely accused of crimes He didn’t do, when He was being crucified on the Cross, then surely, we can see JESUS willingly suffered through His pain, sorrows, and misery. JESUS was mocked, scourged (whipped with hooks that pull flesh out of the body), humiliated, spat upon, beaten, insulted, falsely accused and finally, JESUS was sentenced to death by Crucifixion. JESUS was crucified for the sins of all mankind, without ever having committed even one sin, against anyone, His entire life. If JESUS could respond and do nothing against His enemies who caused Him so much pain, sufferings, misery, trauma, all so that we can all have eternal life in Heaven, then how is it that people (especially Christians) can call lawyers to fight for them and be on the offensive, when JESUS Himself didn’t do so against His own abusers?! JESUS humbled Himself to the point of death on the Cross, the Bible teaches. He spilled His precious, sinless blood for us, to wipe away the sins of all mankind, without which, today, there would be no salvation for mankind.
This doesn’t mean, you should be abused or let someone knowingly abuse you (physically, verbally, emotionally, sexually, financially) – no! Stand up and say no to the person trying to bully you or hurt you in any form or way. Tell them to stop doing it. Make them aware that what they are doing is wrong in G-Ds sight. And if they don’t listen to you, then step away from the situation and let things cool down. Talk to someone in your family (or your relatives) about what’s happening in your life. Don’t gossip, but talk to someone you trust, who will believe what you are saying and won’t take advantage of you. Don’t keep it a secret and keep hurting and being abused.
If you don’t have family members or relatives you can trust, then talk to your friends and raise the issue with them. You could also call the Pastor of a local church if you want him to help you. Don’t let the Pastor of a church help you if you are a woman, without the Pastor’s wife coming along with him as well, always. After many days, if the abuse persists, day after day (harassment, emotional blackmail, abuse of any form), then seek shelter far away from the abuser with a family member, relative or a friend. Don’t go back to live with the abuser if they are not willing to stop and change their behavior. Don’t go near them till they have changed and proven to you and others that they have truly changed. If you don’t want to ever go back to your abuser, because you don’t trust them anymore, then don’t go. You should never be forced to live with an abusive person or a person you are physically afraid of.
But don’t go threatening the abuser with lawsuits and other legal notices when you can choose to forgive them, even when they have knowingly done wrong to you. An abuser might have knowingly abused their power or authority against you, mistreated you, ridiculed you, mocked you, belittled you, disrespected you, shamed you, humiliated you, lied to you, deceived you, denied you something that was rightfully yours (a promotion, a prize, an award, credit due you, denied the appreciation due you, denied the honor due you, denied the respect due you, denied the money due you,…), lied about you, falsely accused you of something you didn’t do – made you take the blame for something you had nothing to do with.
There are too many injustices in the world to list here.
The laws of many countries try to cover the injustices done to mankind by making laws to protect people and bring justice upon the people who have done wrong in the sight of the law. But is true justice really achieved? In most cases, the answer is No. And even if some form of earthly justice is achieved, at what cost was it achieved for the victim or the victim’s family and friends? And after the earthly justice is achieved, how satisfied is the victim or the victim’s family in the long run? Sometimes, the justice achieved is not satisfactory for the victim(s).
At other times, there is no earthly justice for the murder of someone who was innocent of any crime. There is no earthly justice for an accidental death. Many times, there is no earthly justice when someone gets cheated financially. But G-D sees all the injustices in the world, and He will help your case. JESUS will bring justice into your life and give you back more than what you lost – whether it be financial loss or any other loses, except the death of a loved one. If the loved one who died was a Christian, then you can expect to see them again in Heaven, when you go to be with JESUS.
If you choose to forgive others in this life after being abused, G-D will reward you greatly for your good Christian behavior and character here on earth and/or in the next life. That’s why it is important for you to choose not to pursue your perpetrator(s) (enemies) in a legal manner or seek revenge by your own will, especially with your own hands (doing them harm yourself).
It is not worth going on the offensive and pursuing anything legally to get justice here on earth. It is not worth your time and money. JESUS will bring you true justice in your life, without you ever lifting one finger or calling the cops or any lawyer or any law firm or social justice organization to come defend you or fight your case for you. JESUS is your advocate (lawyer) in front of the Father in Heaven, now and always. JESUS is pleading for your life before G-D the Father always, for you to be allowed into Heaven (SEE 1 John 2:1,2; Hebrews 7:24-28; Romans 8:32-35,37).
JESUS loves you so much, more than anyone on earth could ever love you. He wants you to be blessed in the next life with all the blessings you didn’t receive on earth – for all the things you did (and suffered) for JESUS, in JESUS Name. And when you choose to forgive others, then great are your rewards in Heaven, the Bible teaches.
This same JESUS, our G-D, our KING, knew what it means to be hurt. JESUS suffered much humiliation, mocking, physical abuse, emotional abuse, verbal abuse. Yet, as He died on the Cross, after hanging on the Cross for about six hours in the heat of the day, parched for water, hungry, bleeding from His head, His hands, His feet, and His body torn apart like meat in a blender, said “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (SEE Luke 23:34). This is the JESUS we love. This is the JESUS we follow. This is JESUS our G-D, our Savior, our Redeemer, our Defender, our Master.
JESUS is our best example to follow of how to live life on earth. And if CHRIST can forgive His enemies, who crucified Him and put Him to death – all which was based on lies and false testimonies, that even the Roman judge (Pontius Pilate) didn’t believe the Jewish leaders who brought JESUS to be tried in the Roman court. The judge himself washed his hands of the blood of JESUS’s death, because the judge knew in his heart that JESUS was not guilty in the court of law, deserving to be put to death. Pontius Pilate knew that JESUS was innocent of all charges. In spite of all the damning evidence to set JESUS free, He was sentenced to death by Crucifixion (SEE Matthew 27:15-26).
What cruelty! What injustice! Especially to face death, by crucifixion – for no crimes ever committed! This was no joke. This was truly a horrendous injustice.
Do you think only JESUS was meant to suffer in His life and never His followers? JESUS was punished and killed for doing what is right and being innocent of all crimes. If JESUS suffered in His life, then it is okay for you to suffer here on earth (SEE Philippians 3:8-10). That’s the absolute truth of true Christian living. This way, we can imagine, even for a tiny moment, a little bit of what it was for CHRIST to be crucified on the Cross for nearly six hours and then to die the painful death on the Cross. We can experience a minute amount of the persecution and stress JESUS went through in the lead up to His trial and sentencing, the days before His death. JESUS suffered persecution at the hands of the Pharisees and Sadducees (and other Jewish leaders) during the three years He was ministering to the Jewish people in Israel. If you have suffered abuse at the hands of your abuser for many years, now you know what it means to suffer like JESUS.
No one likes to suffer. No one should suffer. But that is not how the world works. The Bible teaches, the servant is not greater than His Master. You are the servant of CHIRST and CHRIST is your Master (SEE John 13:15,16). If the enemies of CHRIST persecuted, hated and abused JESUS during His lifetime, then surely people can and may truly persecute, hate and abuse you, for your faith in JESUS (SEE John 15:18-25; John 17:14-26).
There is injustice on earth, a lot of it. And if you should suffer an injustice, especially if you are innocent of all the accused crimes, then G-D sees the injustice(s) done against you, in your life. JESUS will help you; the Bible teaches. JESUS will bring healing into your life. JESUS will bring His love into your heart, soul, spirit and mind and He will heal your heart, soul, mind and spirit. JESUS will help you forgive and love others as He has loved you and forgiven you. JESUS will help you move on in life. JESUS will give you a brand-new life, forgetting your past and pressing on, till you are one day in Heaven with JESUS, forever, Amen!
If you don’t forgive others and love others as CHRIST has loved you, forgiven you, then how can you be a true Christian as the Bible teaches? How can you be a good Christian example for others to emulate? How will G-Ds light shine through your life for others to see, for them to be transformed, for them to turn to G-D? How can you ever be a martyr for G-D like Stephen was?
Stephen was the first martyr for JESUS in the Bible (SEE Acts 7:54-60). And just as JESUS spoke at the time nearing His death on the Cross, Stephen also said “L-RD, do not charge them with this sin” as he was being stoned to death. How could Stephen have glorified G-D in His life, and lead others to CHRIST, even at the point of his death, if he didn’t choose to forgive others for their sins being committed against him? His act of forgiveness, as he was being stoned, had a great impact on a man named Saul. This Saul is the one who later became the Apostle Paul. And Paul is the one who went on to write nearly 50% of the New Testament Bible we read today! Saul was one of the witnesses standing there, watching Stephen, as he being stoned to death. Yet, because Stephen chose to forgive his enemies, those that killed him for no crimes he had done, Saul was able to come to know JESUS and serve Him all his life, without having to suffer harsher consequences from G-D MOST HIGH, for his sins against Stephen.
I’m not saying, it is for every Christian to stand and fight their enemies in the same way as Stephen the martyr did. But there are lots of Christians who have died the martyr’s death, facing death boldly, without cowering, without fear of the enemy. Many Christians have courageously died for JESUS without ever recanting their faith or becoming an apostate. Such was the case for many Christians in the 1st century to the 4th century Europe (e.g. Peter and Paul were both crucified just as JESUS was, for their faith in JESUS). Peter, Paul, and John never backed down from proclaiming the gospel till their last breath on earth. This is also true for many Christians in the world today. See the list in the link for countries around the world where Christians are persecuted for their faith in CHRIST JESUS – in 2022, 2023. Those Christians are having true justice denied them and many of them are being killed for standing up for their belief in JESUS CHRIST and the teachings of the Bible – [Source: https://www.persecution.org/projects/poy/].
This does not mean your sufferings are not important to G-D or is in anyway less than what is happening to the Christians being martyred in other parts of the world, for their faith in JESUS CHRIST. But you must realize, there are many Christians suffering for their faith in CHRIST around the world too. This will give you a perspective into what your other brothers and sisters in CHRIST are also enduring, just as you have been enduring. And if you are suffering just as them, or have suffered just as them, then you are all closer in your relationships to CHRIST than ever before. You are not alone in your sufferings. Others Christian saints have also suffered for being a Christian and some are still being persecuted. Many Christians will be persecuted, be hurt and have to suffer for CHRIST in the years to come. This persecution is to be expected till the day of JESUS’s return and the rapture of the Church, till the Church of CHRIST is with JESUS in Heaven, forever and ever (SEE Revelation 6:9-11). Such is the way of the world. Such is the will of G-D Almighty, as said in the Bible.
SEE song 2: “Stand up, stand up for JESUS” (hymn) – [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbnhUlj2PZ4].
This world is not perfect, because of man’s sins. G-D knows it; so should you.
Persecution and sufferings should only strengthen your faith in CHRIST, never weaken it. Persecution and sufferings should only make you grow closer to G-D, because, you then truly know in your heart, soul, spirit and mind that there is no one else there for you on earth other than JESUS who truly understands you, who truly loves you and sees all that you’ve been through. He saw all of it, and He was right there with you, all through it. And praise G-D, He brought you out of it! Persecution and sufferings should only make you love G-D more and more every day, for the rest of your life. You should now understand how much G-D truly loves you and how much He loves the world. And you will realize, you will never abandon your faith in CHRIST JESUS or walk away from your Savior, ever, for the rest of your life, whatever happens to you in your life. Your faith in JESUS has been solidified and hardened in the Rock of your salvation, through your persecutions and sufferings.
Praise the L-RD!
JESUS is the only One in this world who will never betray you, abuse you, forget you, reject you or abandon you. JESUS will stand by you and be faithful and true to you, now and forever, as long as you love, follow, obey, serve, honor Him with all your heart, soul, strength and mind, every day, all the days of your life. Through your pain, misery, sufferings and abuse, you will know, there is no one else who truly loves you as much as JESUS does.
Through your hardships, persecution, sufferings and abuse, you will know what it means to forgive others, because CHRIST forgave you of your sins. You will know, there is no one on earth who can bring you true justice and fight for you, other than JESUS alone. G-D will truly reward you for your hard work for Him on earth, in your obedience to Him (SEE Hebrews 11:6). No one on earth will reward you for your faith in JESUS, but G-D the Father will. This is true Christian living. This is living a life of true love for G-D and then for others around you. This is showing genuine forgiveness as the Bible teaches. This is you becoming the salt and light in the world for JESUS.
Give G-D the glory!
Don’t ever betray JESUS and the teachings of the Bible in the time of your sufferings, pain, misery, persecution and/or abuse. Don’t ever run away from G-D, curse G-D or blaspheme His powerful Name. Draw near to G-D in your time of pain, sorrows, sufferings, misery, strife, abuse and JESUS will become your best friend in life, forever, Amen!
G-D bless you for your faith in JESUS. Stand up for JESUS for all the days of your life, even if means there could be harm or death to your physical body. Stand up boldly for JESUS all the days of your life here on earth, so help you G-D Almighty, through the power of His H-LY SPIRIT who lives in you, all for the glory of G-D alone every day, Amen.
Amen.
SEE song 3: “I am the bread of Life” – by Marilla Ness – [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-HU0wfR_xw].
