Hi, This is a much needed topic I think. I'd like to share with you what I learned from God.
We americans love to tell "stories". We love to "testify". Often however, we share of how we react to someone else's short comings. In doing so, we glorify God at someone else's expense.
If I have a desire to share, and what I share involves the sin or low point of someone else that would cause my hearer or reader to think less of that person, then I abstain from that testimony. It's not worth it. It makes me look like I'm "somebody" at the expense of another. That is NOT God, imho. It does not stir the spirit of another. Rather, it excites the flesh.
One area where this is really true is when men get together and talk about their wives, or when wives do the same about their husbands. Oh how this grieves God. Even if I'm wounded deeply, I can't tell you about if my wife or someone else we both know was the offending party. To me, it is not being Christlike. I'd rather bleed alone.
Actually, what really got my attention is when I was wounded once, deeply, and upset. I went running to God, whinning. He asked me a very sobering question..."Lahry, have you ever done that to Me?" "Yes, Lord". "Once, Lahry"? "No, many times, Lord". "Did I forgive you Lahry?" "Yes, Lord, every time." "Will you forgive Lahry?" "Yes Lord, help me to forgive every time."
It is so hard to carry a wound alone. But we are not alone, the Holy One Who was wounded most of all by OUR SIN, He is always with us. He cares, He heals, He restores. Yes, it helps to share with others, but if it is at someone else's expense, we had better lick our wounds alone, alone with God.
Humbly before Him,
Lahry |