Author: admin

One of the most disconcerting realities of being a disciple of Jesus is the conflict it often generates with our own family.

Typically our family loves us more than anyone else. They are our blood relations and have known us all of our life. Yet Jesus is divisive. He always has been. You cannot sit on the fence with Christ. You are either for Him or against Him. You are either hot or cold. And, when you are for Jesus, you will inevitably invite opposition and criticism upon yourself, even if it is from your own family.

One might be able to endure critiques from colleagues and even friends. But often barbs from family hurt deeply. We might think that God would spare us such pain in response to our desire to serve Him. But Jesus understands misunderstanding. His own brothers thought Him an embarrassment at one stage of His life. But it did not deter Him. And, in time, His family embraced Him and His mission.

Don’t be surprised if you have family members who do not support your obedience to Christ.

If you are going to speak the words of God to others, you will have to set aside your own words.

At times we can be too quick to offer our opinion. The answer to the current problem or need seems readily apparent to us. Yet we must always remember that we are servants of the Lord. It is His words that bring life. When Christ allows us to stand before audiences and to speak on His behalf, we must make certain that what comes out of our mouth are His words, not ours.

Pride will suggest to us that we have plenty of clever things to say. We know certain cliches or humorous anecdotes that are sure to bring a smile to peoples’ faces! Yes the key is not how witty we are, but how divine are our words.

Take confidence not in your ability but in your master. Christ is fully prepared to use your life to bless others. Let Him fill your mouth with His words and then watch Him use your life to set people free!

We are servants. Christ is our master. We are His ambassadors. What we say to others merely reflects our Lord’s heart.

If the Holy Spirit orchestrates an opportunity for you to speak on His behalf, don’t be afraid! Not only will He provide you the occasion, He will also give you the words. It might surprise you what words come out of your mouth. Things you have never said before. Applications you never made before. It is an awesome thing to be God’s representative!

At times we can become too focused on ourselves. We worry about what we’ll say. We are nervous about whether we will speak well and whether our listeners will like what we have to say. Too often we act as if everything depended upon us and upon our eloquence.

The truth is that we are but God’s mouthpiece. We are His servants. At that time and place and before that particular audience, God has chosen for us to represent Him. What an undeserved privilege! When those times come in your life, may you represent your Lord well.

God intends for His people to exert a godly influence at the highest levels. You not be able to manipulate your way to high level officials, but God knows how to get you there!

Don’t be surprised if you find yourself in a position to extend a witness to a top ranking official. God may well have orchestrated that appointment.

Beware, however. Your meeting may not be for a pleasant reason. It could even be in the form of persecution. Paul met with kings and Caesars. It was not always a joyous experience, but the veteran apostle always seized the opportunity to extend a witness for Christ to his esteemed host.

Remember this. If God allows you a hearing with a person of influence, there is a divine purpose. It is not merely to exalt you. When such opportunities come, use them fully for Christ.

This may be some of the wisest counsel Jesus ever gave His disciples.

Sadly, this advice has not always been heeded. Wise leaders recognize that even the most well meaning person can disappoint. Only God can be given our complete trust, for only He never fails.

Too often Jesus’ disciples have placed their trust in people when they should have placed it in Christ. Perhaps it is someone who promised to serve on our team. Maybe it is someone who assured us they would provide financial support. It could be someone who claimed they understood our situation and were wholly supportive. Sure enough, those people who had professed their loyalty became our enemies. Those who had gladly received ministry in the past, now turned against the very one who had cared for them. Those who had been taught, now rejected their teacher. History is cluttered with examples of men and women who proved to be untrustworthy.

What is the evidence that you place your trust in God rather than in people?

Ministry is not always easy. In fact, it can be dangerous. But Jesus does not necessarily expect us to be needless martyrs.

Jesus made it clear there would be times when people might want to destroy us just as wolves prey upon sheep. Just as sheep are no match for wolves, so the powers of darkness have numerous evil weapons at their disposal with which to inflict great harm upon us.

The key is to be wise as serpents. Serpents are not necessarily strong. Nor can they withstand the power of larger animals. But they are cunning. In this instruction, Jesus revealed his pragmatic wisdom. He alerted His disciples that they were not to needlessly become victims when it could be avoided. There might be occasions when it was wise to watch our words or actions so it did not bring harm our way. This cannot always be avoided. But it should be, when possible. And, if we must endure suffering for the cause of Christ, there is a wise way to conduct ourselves even then.

Jesus never presented the nature of ministry with rose-tinted glasses. He didn’t downplay the negative response He knew His disciples would sometimes receive.

But neither did Jesus indicate we should excuse people’s rejection of the truth. In fact, He instructed the Twelve to make it clear who accepted their message and who rejected it. The disciples were not to leave town quietly when people resisted their message. Rather, they were to make it plain to everyone where people stood in relation to the Gospel.

Too often today Christians feel guilty for even suggesting someone is not walking with God. We have become so inculcated with the belief that we are not to “judge” anyone that we often fear to suggest that even the most carnal person is at variance with the Gospel message. Jesus was never had such reservations. He was never vindictive, only truthful. He knew that it did no good to call someone “light” when they were in fact, darkness.

Do you have the courage to tell the truth about people?

If you are a Christian, you have been given much. Much. In fact, for the rest of eternity we will be discovering more and more that was bought for us by Christ on the cross. In this life, we only begin to scratch the surface of all that is now ours. And it was all free.

How ought people to live who have been given so much? They ought to be extremely generous! How could we not be? We have been made princes when we were born as paupers. We were enemies, now we are friends. We were destitute and now we are infinitely rich.

What ought our attitude be like? We ought to be joyful! We ought to be thoughtful of others who have not yet experienced such a windfall.

When Jesus sent out His disciples, He commissioned them to bless others. They were to heal the sick, cleanse lepers, raise the dead, and cast out demons. Imagine if you were the recipient of any of those actions. How grateful you would have been! Word would quickly get out that when you encounter a disciple of Jesus, your life is changed, for the better.

Is that the way the people around you feel?

Jesus assumed His followers would be going. He assumed movement of His followers so much that at times He does not even command that they go. He simply assumes they will be on the move.

Sadly, we cannot assume this about every Christian. There is a natural tendency among God’s people to become immobile. We become entangled in a multitude of concerns and commitments. Though we feel we are busy and involved in important tasks, the reality is that we are no longer going. We are merely staying.

Interestingly, Jesus instructed His disciples to preach. They were to communicate the truth and they were to do it with a sense of urgency and fervency. Preaching is not simply setting a good example. It is urgently exhorting people to obey God. There should be nothing lukewarm or indifferent about preaching! Jesus commissioned His followers to go and to preach. We ought not be surprised when He calls for us to do the same thing! “Oh, but I am not a preacher!” you hurriedly explain. Neither were the disciples.

There are many confusing, almost troubling statements found in the Gospels. This is one.

When Jesus first sent out His disciples, He instructed them not to go to the Samaritans or Gentiles, but to their fellow Jews. This seems contrary to all we know of Christ and His love for all people.

Yet there is a principle here. God began with His own people. The Jewish people had been granted a rare and unprecedented opportunity to know and walk with God. But they had departed from Him. Because of their former relationship, God gave them the first opportunity to return to Him. God’s heart was for the revival. Throughout history, revival has typically preceded a great awakening. God first gets His own people in right relationship with Himself before He draws unbelievers. Some Christian leaders today are impatient with other believers and want to focus entirely on unbelievers. But God began with His own.

Jesus also taught His disciples to begin with those closest to them. Jesus eventually sent His disciples to the ends of the earth, but He first asked them to reach the people in Jerusalem (Acts 1:8). At times it is easier to convert someone from a distant land than it is to share Christ with a colleague at work.

Are there people close to you, to whom you should be going? Perhaps you should begin with them.