It may be that even the members of the
church to which you belong will say and do that which will grieve
you. But move right on, calm and peaceful, ever trusting in Jesus,
remembering that you are not your own, that you are Christ's
property, the purchase of the blood of God's beloved Son, and
that you are engaged in His work, seeking to bless humanity.
This is a great work. Do not let the perversity of men move you
from firm trust and abiding faith in the promises of God.
It hurts you when one for whom you have
done much becomes your enemy, having been brought under an influence
opposed to you. But do you not do almost the same thing to Jesus
when you turn away from Him? He has been your best friend. He
has done everything He could to win your love. He has invited
your confidence. He has asked you to come to Him with all your
burdens and all your griefs, and has pledged His word to give
you rest and peace if you will wear His yoke and bear His burdens.
He declares that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Show
that you believe this. Take God at His word. You never could
have stood where you now stand, bearing the responsibilities
that you have borne, unless Jesus had given you special help.
Acknowledge this. Praise God for the help that He has been to
you, and trust Him still.
Bring Christ into your life. Do not feel that
you are answerable for the wrong course of others, even though
they are in the church. There are
in the church unfaithful ones who treat Jesus far worse than
they treat you. Were He on earth, they would insult Him, revile
Him, defame Him. "It must needs be that offenses come; but
woe to that man by whom the offense cometh." "It were
better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and
that he were drowned in the depth of the sea." Matthew 18:7,
6.
You are carrying a heavy load. I wish that everyone could feel this as I do. I wish that all your brethren would be true and faithful to you, not hindering you, not extolling or glorifying you, but looking upon you as one whom God is using as His instrument to do a given work, and remembering that they must not block the wheels, but must put their shoulder to the wheel, helping instead of hindering.