Undeniable Truth #2

Undeniable Truth #2

A GODLY MAN HAS THE RIGHT FRIENDS AND ENEMIES- Luke 6:26

When I first started in the ministry I had some pretty unrealistic expectations. One of the most ridiculous was the notion that somehow I would be liked by everyone. After all, I reasoned: "I have no axes to grind, no personal agenda's to push and nothing to  prove." So, I figured that simply living for The Lord would be enough to put me in good favor with most if not all folks.

Boy was I wrong. I have made my share of enemies in the last 30+ years. And, yes it still bothers me. Trinetta still tells me that my skin is dangerously thin and every now and then she has to hit me with a pretty hard dose of reality when I am criticized or attacked and I let it send me into an emotional tailspin.

At the same time, life in the ministry has had it's rewards. We have developed so many wonderful friends all over the country. People we have worked shoulder to shoulder with in sharing Jesus around the globe. No two friends are closer than those who's friendship is centered around Christ.

But, finally as I am getting older, I have come to grips with the fact that the man who has no enemies is either a man with no convictions or he's pushing up daisies in a graveyard somewhere. Jesus said in Luke 6:26 "Beware when all men speak well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets." The inference here is that is you change your convictions/message to tickle the ears of those around you...in order to keep them happy or on your side, then you will receive God's judgement.

When you do have convictions, when you do take a stand, there will always be someone who will oppose you. And, not just people who are in the world- sometimes your biggest opposition will come from someone in the church. This can be devastating if you are not prepared for this eventuality. So, my counsel is: expect it, grow some alligator hyde and don't lose your joy over it.

We only need to think about the fact that the only man who ever lived, without making a single mistake, without so much as a solitary sin on his record, had enemies that were literally consumed with destroying him. And in the end, they plotted and proudly played a part in His death.

Jesus is our example of a suffering servant and he never lost His joy...even facing the cross.  The bible says of Jesus:

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.