Hit by Friendly Fire?

    Here are some scriptures to meditate upon the next time someone you love hurts you deeply.   And yes it will more than likely happen!  And also you will more than likely hurt another person, even unintentionally.  God forbid that we should hurt the children of the Lord, those that were purchased with His blood.   But we do it.  I've been hurt myself too, even recently by folks that are my friends, people I have loved and respected.  And also I'm sure I've hurt folks as well with my words and actions, even if it was unintentional.

    Do you know someone who you thought was a dear friend who really tried to hurt you?  Have you received a wound inflicted by someone you love?  Do you feel like you're a victim?  Well let's see what the scriptures have to say.

And when Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will perhaps hate us, and will certainly repay us all the evil which we did to him. And they sent a message to Joseph, saying, Your father commanded before he died, saying, So shall you say to Joseph, please lift up the rebellion of your brothers, and their sin. For they did evil to you. And please now lift up the rebellion of the servants of the God of your father. And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. And his brothers also went and fell down before his face. And they said, Behold, we are your servants. And Joseph said to them, Do not fear. For am I in the place of God? But as for you, you thought evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save a great many people alive. And now do not fear. I will nourish you and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spoke to their hearts. - Gen 50:15-21

Some indeed even preach Christ because of envy and strife, and some also of good will. Those, indeed, preach Christ out of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds. But these others preach in love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel. What then? Nevertheless, in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached. And I rejoice in this. Yet, also I will rejoice. - Philippians 1:15-18

More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; - Philippians 3:8-10

    I've recently been called a compromiser, an unbeliever, a tolerant calvinist, and have taken hits from many directions, even directions that I did not expect.  People who I thought were my friends treated me with cruelty, betrayed my confidences, and have talked behind my back.  And I have struggled with my emotions, and my sinful flesh.  But I know that this was all planned out for my good, and I do take joy in that.  And if you are a believer and have suffered harm by your friends and loved ones, this too was for your good (Rom 8:28-30).  And I am writing this article now for the next time it happens, so I can come back and read this, and be reminded that He is sovereign.  And although we don't know how these seemingly bad things that happen to us are good for us, we can know that they are, and we can rest and take comfort in His rod and staff.