Times of difficulty?

I was reading this morning and I came across this jewel from Paul's letter to the church in Corinth.

It reads, But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy heartless, unappealing, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of goodness, but denying its power. Avoid such people."

Wow.

Not something to look forward to, huh?

I'm reminded of the 15th Psalm. O Lord, who may abide in your tent?   Who may dwell on your holy hill? Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart; who do not slander with their tongue and do no evil to their friends, nor take up a reproach against their neighbors; in whose eyes the wicked are despised but who honor those who fear the Lord; who stand by their oath even to their hurt; who do not lend money at interest, and do not take a bribe against the innocent. Those who do these things shall never be moved.

Who among us can live blamelessly, can do what is right, and speak the truth from the heart? And just how do we avoid those folks?

Well, those among us who can turn to Jesus to correct, to forgive, our many, many faults.

I have dealt, over and over, with those who slander, as best I can. But it is a hard, hard road to travel over time.

I pray that will be enough.

Someone once said that "once they stop talking to you, they start talking about you."

Fair enough.