Betrayed by Friends and Relatives

[devotional at egwlists.whiteestate.org]

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Ellen G. White Estate, Devotional for July 8
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Betrayed by Friends and Relatives

A man's foes shall be they of his own household. Matt. 11:36. 


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."

>From Maranatha - Page 197