Hurting Others

by David Stone

"---first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift."--Matthew 5:24

Have you ever hurt someone? I'm talking about more than physical abuse. I'm talking about breaking their heart, crushing their spirit, leaving them in a pool of tears, grieving them beyond what they are able to bear?

So what did you do about it? Sadly, most people don't do anything. They just go on their merry way, leaving their victim writhing in anquish and pain. They're like a hit-and -run driver. They do the damage and take-off down the road, leaving others to deal with the harm they've done--no apology, no aid, no remorse (unless they get caught, and start feeling sorry for themselves). We see it all the time. But it's where we see it that is most troubling.

You expect such cruelty from the world, but you don't expect it from professing Christians. They're suppose to be different. We don't expect to get "blind-sided" by someone who says they "love Jesus". Well, you better get ready for it--sooner or later it will happen. Nor everyone who sings,"O How I Love Jesus" cares about you. But, believe it or not, it's better to be the victim than the perpetrator!

Don't think for a minute that your sin will go unnoticed or unpunished. When you hurt God's children you hurt God (Matthew 25:40) and you're going to get hurt! You can't hurt others without hurting yourself.

If you are guilty of this terrible sin you need to repent. Confess your sin to God and to all those you've affected, then do everything in your power to make restitution. Doing so will be painful, but not nearly so painful as not doing it. Remember--no one ever sinned successfully!