JESUS SPEAKING
“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.” (John 15: 18 – 20)
FAITHFUL THOUGHTS
The desire to be liked is a powerful human instinct which can often interfere with honest evangelism. Although we are called to accomplish good works and to love others, our kind deeds must also include the gospel message. The gospel is a wonderful gift to mankind, and yet it is also divisive, exclusionary, and confrontational. For instance, Jesus is the only way to God; thus revealing that all other religions are false. Also, refusing to accept the faith will result in eternal punishment. For these reasons alone, any messenger of the gospel will be hated by many.
I was recently summoned to the bedside of a woman dying of cancer. Despite numerous years of defiance, in that moment she received Jesus Christ and was baptized with a wet washcloth. She died the next day. Shortly thereafter, I was asked to speak at her funeral; which I agreed to do. Upon arriving at the home for the ceremony, I began casually speaking with her relatives, friends and acquaintances. Most of them were very pleasant; shaking my hand and treating me with a measure of affection. They were open and expressive; they genuinely seemed to like me. When it came time to speak I didn’t hold back. I described how this woman had gotten saved, and that she wasn’t dead, but alive in Christ. I then presented everyone in attendance with the gospel message. I explained how they too needed to receive Christ and be reborn if they were to have a future with her in God’s kingdom. I then announced that after the service I would be available for anyone who desired to receive Christ as she had done. I informed them that I had bibles to hand out to whomever might want one. After the service concluded, the room became remarkably silent. Most refrained from making eye contact with me. No one approached me to inquire about being saved, and their previous affections for me had vanished; their warmth had turned cold (with several exceptions.) I lingered for a while, speaking with individuals here and there; I was even able to hand out a few bibles. Still, this cold reaction wasn’t entirely unexpected. If I had possessed an overwhelming desire to be liked, I could have easily altered the message; making it more palatable and less convicting. But then it would have become something other than the gospel truth.
As we journey through this life we must maintain our commitment to preaching the gospel; unaltered and unchanged. The message is not ours, but God’s alone. We are not the authors of truth; but rather, we are charged with delivering it to others. May we never allow our desire to be liked to interfere with our allegiance to Christ, and our commitment to the truth.
“Lord Heavenly Father, give us the strength and courage to spread Your message of salvation to all those who are walking in darkness. May we remain committed to preaching the whole gospel. Grant us strength in times of persecution and unrest; that our affections for You may remain steadfast. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you!
