Time to Stand Up!

 

“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God?

Or am I trying to please people?

If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

Galatians 1:10

Maybe there was a time when being sold-out for Jesus was ‘popular’.

But if I’m being honest – I don’t really think that has ever been the case.

I do believe that a person who has given themselves wholeheartedly to God will be at odds with the world.

Speaking of His disciples, Jesus put it this way in the second half of

the twenty-fifth verse of Matthew Chapter Ten –

“...If the head of the house has been called Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household!”

In other words – if they insulted Jesus to the point of comparing Him with the devil, how much more should we expect persecution?

Are you easily offended?

Then trying to please others in order to avoid offense is a trap to be aware of.

There was an old adage that fits here and it went something like this –

“Forewarned is forearmed.”

Be prepared to be offended.

Be prepared to not be liked by some.

This is not meant to discourage you but so that you might fully understand that a sold out disciple of Jesus Christ can and should expect opposition from the world.

Not because he or she is behaving in an untoward or obnoxious way but simply because the world and the Kingdom of God are not the same and neither are the citizens of each.

Seek God’s approval.

If that sometimes means you displease man then you should not be surprised!