Welcome back to "A Word from the Vine." I'm Pastor Loren. Dear friends, as we delve deeper into the heart of this matter, let us consider the cycle of hurt that perpetuates bullying. It is a sorrowful truth that those who have been scorned and belittled may find themselves wielding the same weapons of words that once tore at their own souls.
Why is it that the wounded may become wounders? The Scripture offers us wisdom in the book of Proverbs:
Proverbs 22:10 - “Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out, and quarreling and abuse will cease.”
This verse speaks to the disruptive force of the scoffer—the bully in our midst. When such a one is removed, peace can be restored. Yet, we must ask ourselves, what becomes of the scoffer? Often, they carry the seeds of strife within them, sown from the hurts they have endured, and in turn, they may sow these seeds in other fields, perpetuating a cycle of pain.
It is a reflection of our fallen nature, a consequence of living in a world marred by sin. The scoffer, who has known the sting of derision, may find a twisted solace in not being at the bottom of the pecking order. In their quest for a semblance of control or superiority, they inflict upon others the very torment they once suffered.
But let us not forget, dear friends, that our call as followers of Christ is to break this cycle. We are called to be healers, peacemakers, and restorers of the breach. We are called to drive out scoffing not with force, but with love; not by perpetuating abuse, but by extending the hand of grace.
As we reflect on this cycle of hurt, let us commit to being agents of change. Let us choose to speak life into the lives of others, to uplift rather than to tear down. And in doing so, may we mirror the heart of our Savior, who came not to condemn but to save, not to scoff but to sacrifice.
May the Lord grant us the courage to stand against the tide of bullying, to protect the vulnerable, and to transform the hearts of those caught in the cycle of hurt. Amen.
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