The ground is level at the foot of the cross of Jesus, the only Perfect One who ever lived on the earth. He took upon Himself the full punishment of God's anger against sin, and paid your and my debt. Let me assure you, if you have asked Jesus to be your Savior and trusted in what He did to make you righteous, you are totally forgiven, made clean through Jesus' blood. God declares you righteous: believe it. He loves you, and that's why He sent Jesus to pay the debt of sin we could never pay ourselves. Jesus says the same words to you as He spoke to the woman caught in adultery: "go and sin no more." If you think about the goodness of God's grace toward you and the forgiveness you have received, you will have the power to stop the abusive behavior because you will not want to act that way anymore.
If you have been the victim of child abuse or bullying, I want to help you be free from it's painful effects in your soul. First of all, look to God's Word for your help and truth. To be free from the prison bars of hate that hold you captive because of mistreatment, you must first of all forgive your abuser or bully. Easier said than done, I agree. But if you let anger and hatred control you because of what someone did against you, you are still giving that person power over your life! The only way out is to forgive them with the help of Jesus.
A simple prayer from your heart will be heard by God: "Lord Jesus, I choose to forgive the one who abused / bullied me. I ask you to bless __________ with your truth and righteousness." Even if feelings of hate or hurt still want to surface, choose to declare, "I forgive you, __________, for what you did. Bless them, and heal me, Lord Jesus." Repeat as needed. The gospel is the power of God unto salvation to all who believe! God wants to save and heal them as well as you. I know it will take humbling yourself to pray this prayer for them. That's what God calls "dying to the flesh." Humbling ourselves to the truth of God's Word. God will help you.
Many of us know Joyce Meyer and her story of sexual, verbal and physical abuse she endured at the hands of her father for many years as she was growing up. Her mother knew, but did nothing to stop it. Can you imagine the betrayal, hatred and anger Joyce must have felt in her home situation? To make a long story short, the Lord helped her forgive her father bit by bit, and one day he received Jesus as His Lord and Savior under Joyce's ministry, and she baptized him herself! Now, that's the power of God! (If you don't know Joyce, she's a minister and international speaker at conferences everywhere, and God is using her mightily!) I recommend getting her book "Beauty For Ashes" to read her story and how she overcame with God's help. The book is also a teaching book to help you receive healing and walk in wholeness.
If you are currently in an abusive situation where your life or mental health is in danger, you must separate yourself from the perpetrator and go to a safe place. Contact your pastor or a trusted leader for help, (provided they are not the ones doing the abusing!) If a child's life is in danger, s/he must be put in a safe place also. If there is no one in your church who can immediately take in the child or adult in danger, you must contact social services in your area. Don't let the abuse continue: you are responsible if you know and do nothing.
To the rest of us I ask: if we know an abuser or bully, would we have the courage and spiritual grace to ask the Holy Spirit what we can do to help that person become a new person in Christ Jesus? What can we do to help the perpetrator stop his evil actions? What would Jesus do? The only answer is in that person becoming a new creation in Christ Jesus where he humbles himself to the truth of the gospel. For sure, the first step is to pray earnestly for that person before even going to see him. We are our brother's keeper.
One can see how much Jesus loves the little children as we read the gospels. He was known to take them up in His arms and bless them when others thought they were a nuisance and a bother, "time-wasters." (See Mark 10:13-16)
Matthew 18:10 & 14-17 is a passage of Scripture that I believe can be applied to child abuse or bullying. Jesus was talking about little children and someone hurting them. "Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. . . "Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish. Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector."
Let all that we do be out of love, with hearts broken by the Holy Spirit to see the needs on both sides of the painful subjects of child abuse and bullying. God bless you, dear reader. Let's work the field of souls together!
Copyright © 2012 Elaine Beachy
No comments:
Post a Comment