When other Christians isolate or misunderstand you for taking faith seriously, don't respond with pride or bitterness. Stay humble and kind instead, letting your life speak for itself. The speaker cites Hebrews 10:24 on spurring each other toward love and good deeds.
It's one thing when nonbelievers treat you like you're strange, but it's something else entirely when even fellow Christians misunderstand and distance themselves from you. Sadly, not everyone is at the same place spiritually. Now, don't let that fill you with pride because remember, we're all works in progress. But it's true that sometimes fellow believers just aren't taking things as seriously as we think they should. Now, that's not an opportunity to cast judgment or to condescend or to try to play the Holy Spirit's role in their life. But you do need to be prepared for what happens for when your commitment begins to convict them for their compromise. Because of how seriously you take your walk with Christ, you need to be prepared to sometimes feel isolated, isolated from even fellow believers who don't quite understand you. You'll be labeled as strange, too spiritual, or sometimes unrealistic. Your passion for purity will be called religious. Your love of the Holy Spirit and his power will be labeled as unbalanced. Now, it can feel lonely sometimes, but you can't allow that to make you bitter or cynical, nor should you isolate yourself from other believers. Instead, see it as an opportunity to shine for the Lord. Don't become judgmental or condescending. Instead, be gracious, kind, humble, and understanding. Allow the fruit of your life to validate your lifestyle And let us consider how we may spur one another toward love and good deeds. Hebrews 10:24.
