You must be in fellowship prior to your Bible study, so that the spiritual information you receive can become a source, of blessing to your soul and produce spiritual growth.
11 I was a
reproach [cherpah] among all mine enemies [tsarar], but especially [ma`od]
among my neighbours [shaken], and a fear [pachad] to mine acquaintance [yada`]:
they that did see [ra'ah] me without [chuwts] fled [nadad] from me. KJV-Interlinear
11 Because
of all my adversaries, I have become a reproach, Especially to my neighbors, And
an object of dread to my acquaintances; Those who see me in the street flee
from me. NASB
Too often, people are afraid to do the simplest thing, such as read a bible study, for fear that someone will see them reading or find out that they are interested in Christian teaching, and mock or ostracize them for their Christian activity.
A reproach, ‘cherpah,’ refers to the attitude of disgrace, embarrassment, a rejection, or a shame. And people will avoid you if you profess your Christian views, just as you avoid your Christian responsibilities or connections because you are likewise embarrassed or ashamed or repulsed by the thought of humbling yourself to whatever or whoever it is that you wish to avoid in your Christian life.
To flee, ‘nadad,’ really means to avoid, to ignore, to stay away, to ostracize.
And all sorts of people, including family, friends, neighbors, acquaintances, or strangers will take it upon themselves to hurt you emotionally or perhaps physically, simply by avoiding you or leaving you out of their social or work activities.
So, what is more important to you in life, your peers and what people think of you, or your Christian views and what God thinks of you.
Throughout history, people have been thrown into prison, thrown to the lions, sent into slavery or poverty simply because of their Christian beliefs, and their refusal to conform to the current views of the world.
How far would you go, to maintain your Christian views? Would you walk away from your job, your political beliefs, lose your home or family? Would you lose your life over Christ?
Would you avoid a daily study, or study in private? Would you avoid speaking out when speaking out is needed?
Would you avoid your responsibilities and obligations to self or to others, for the sake of avoiding insults.
Would you avoid giving in order to protect your pocketbook, because after all, money is tight and someone else can do that. It’s much easier to say you’ll pray about that, and then do nothing.
Just how strong, or weak, is your Christian faith?
Who or what do you fear more, God or people or life's circumstances?
Who or what do you trust more, God or people or life's circumstances?
Are you a spiritual warrior, or a wimp?
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