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Betrayed by Friends and Relatives, July 8
A man’s foes shall be they of his own household.
Matthew 10:36
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When the law of God is made void, and the church is sifted by the fiery
trials that are to try all that live upon the earth, a great proportion of those
who are supposed to be genuine will give heed to seducing spirits, and
will turn traitors and betray sacred trusts. They will prove our very worst
persecutors. “Of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things,
to draw away disciples after them;” and many will give heed to seducing
spirits.
Those who apostatize in time of trial will bear false witness and betray
their brethren, to secure their own safety. They will tell where their brethren
are concealed, putting the wolves on their track. Christ has warned us of
this, that we may not be surprised at the cruel, unnatural course pursued by
friends and relatives.
We shall find that we must let loose of all hands except the hand of
Jesus Christ. Friends will prove treacherous, and will betray us. Relatives,
deceived by the enemy, will think they do God service in opposing us and
putting forth the utmost efforts to bring us into hard places, hoping we
will deny our faith. But we may trust our hand in the hand of Christ amid
darkness and peril.
The followers of Christ must expect to encounter sneers. They will be
reviled; their words and their faith will be misrepresented. Coldness and
contempt may be harder to endure than martyrdom....
Parents will turn harshly against their children who accept unpopular
truth. Those who conscientiously serve God will be accused of rebellion.
Property that was willed to children or other relatives who believe the
present truth will be given into other hands. Guardians will rob orphans and
widows of their just dues. Those who depart from evil will make themselves
a prey through laws enacted to compel the conscience. Men will take to
themselves property to which they have no right. The words of the apostle
will be verified in the near future: “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus
shall suffer persecution.”
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