Author: admin

Too often we fear the wrong people and the wrong things.

People ought not to intimidate Jesus’ disciples. The worst that people can do is harm us physically. Even Satan cannot harm us apart from God’s sovereign will. Why is it then that we fear people and demons so much, and we fear God so little? People continually pronounce that we ought not to fear God, that He is a God of love. Conversely, we are encouraged to go to great lengths to appease and please people.

Yet it was Jesus Himself who encouraged us to consider who we ought to maintain a healthy fear of. God has far more ability to express His displeasure to us than does Satan. It is God will determine people’s eternal fates. It is God who will judge the living and the dead. It is God who will hold people accountable for their words and actions. The thought of standing before a righteous God as we give a full accounting of our lives ought to cause us to tremble.

Could it be that you have feared people too much and God too little?

God’s words to you are to be shared. When God speaks to you in secret, proclaim those truths to others. What God says to you in secret could be life changing for others!

But what if you don’t hear anything in secret? What if when you mount your rooftop, you have nothing to shout? Some people are too busy climbing to their rooftops that they don’t take the time to enter the secret place to receive a fresh word from the Lord. Jesus did not tell His disciples to simply preach their own sermons from the rooftops. He instructed them to preach what they had heard. If you don’t hear anything from Christ, you will have nothing to preach.

Before you mount the pulpit, or soap box, make your way to the secret place. People need to hear what you heard, not what you thought!

Truth always prevails, eventually.

Jesus assured us we would be lied about, slandered misrepresented, and misunderstood. Yet eventually truth would be vindicated. In Jesus’ case, it did not occur until after He had died.

Yet though we must at times suffer the cruel injustice of falsehood, we can take comfort in knowing that we side with truth. It has a way of ultimately triumphing even in the most oppressive of environments.

That ought to not only encourage us to side with truth, but also to ensure we never trust in a lie. For we, too, may be seduced to think we can live a lie before others. We can be tempted to assume that we can conceal our sin from the light of day. Yet the truth inevitably comes out, for everyone. That is why we don’t need to fear those who rely upon falsehood. They may seem intimidating, and even invincible, for a time, but they function on a shaky foundation. They may plot and bluster and threaten and intimidate, but ultimately the truth will bring them down. It always does.

Jesus, God’s only Son, is fully prepared to share His inheritance with us. He is even now preparing a place for us in His heavenly home. But, He will also share with us the reproach and hostility from His enemies with us as well. We can’t have one without the other.

We are simply servants of the King. We are His ambassadors. We speak and act not on our own account or initiative but on His. So it ought not to surprise us when we are treated in a similar manner as Jesus was.

Jesus was perfectly righteous and good. Yet He was accused of being Satan himself! Imagine such a false understanding! Imagine being so badly misunderstood. And yet, we can imagine. For it has most certainly happened to us as well.

We try to help someone, and they are offended that we are “judging” them. We offer God’s truth and we are criticized for being self righteous and superior. Even when we do nothing, people accuse us of unkind actions. It can be extremely frustrating to be misunderstood!

Yet no one was more understood than Jesus. Ironically no one spoke more truth or was more consistent than He. And so He warned us, that we could expect the same. You are not above your master. You deserve no special exemption. Examine Jesus’ life carefully so you know exactly what you can expect in your own.

Considering how “nice” most Christians are, it’s surprising how angry people can become at them!

Christians naturally want to people to like and accept them. They tend to value relationships. Yet it ought never to surprise disciples of Jesus when people oppose and even hate them. Jesus warned us it would be so.

One of the great paradoxes is that a Messiah who embodied love in His very existence should engender such hate toward Him. Yet, though Christ upholds love, He also espouses light. And darkness cannot stand light, no matter how loving it might be!

Even as Jesus was loving sinners, sinners were nailing Him to a cross.

Likewise, Jesus warned His followers that, just as people hated Him, they would despise His followers also. We must always keep in mind that their hostility is not toward us, but toward our Lord (Unless of course you are behaving like a jerk!). While we ought to do everything within our power to be at peace with others, we must also resign ourselves to the truth that as long as we live in a world that is permeated with spiritual darkness, there will be those who take offense at our Lord, and at us.

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?