by David Brenneman
"You and I cannot be useful if we want to be sweet as honey in the mouths of men. God will never bless us if we wish to please men, that they may think well of us." Charles Spurgeon.
Our society honestly has gotten so toxic that the "canceling" of individuals or groups is now a commonplace experience.
Employers are now fearful of retaliation through lawsuits if they attempt to stand on the word of God in their businesses.
People are attacked socially through social media for their beliefs.
People either are forced into silence...or they stand on the Word of God, through the work of the Spirit of God, to be who they are meant to be in Christ Jesus.
I have experienced more than one employer who's been more concerned about the fallout of interpersonal relationships than they were in keeping good people.
In the day-to-day of life in some corners of the world if you don't socially comply with the government approved sins of other's, you're ostracized.
As I have stated publicly in my social media posts I say again here.
I would rather stand with God and be judged by the world than to stand with the world and be judged by God.
"If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”" Joshua 24:15.
What say you?
We are called to be salt and light. Not seasonings that don't affect those around us. As Jesus said...if the salt has become useless then what good is it?
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by people. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:13-16.
"And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not grasp it." John 1:5.
Don't be surprised when your life in Christ isn't understood by those who aren't.
"But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised." 1 Corinthians 2:14.
We are going to be offensive to the unbelieving at some point. Anyone getting a bright light shone in their face when they've been in darkness a long time is offended by the power of the light.
Love God with our everything...heart, mind, soul and spirit.
Love your neighbor as yourself.
Doesn't at all mean to compromise your life in any way to appease them.
Time and time again we read of the admonition to stand firm in the New Testament. To stand firm absolutely means to not compromise.
We're to be mindful that our compromises will be noticed by both those weaker in the faith as well as the unbelieving whereby they might feel empowered or encouraged to stay in their sins.
My daily prayers include all those whom I used to work with as well as those I work with now who don't know Jesus as Lord and Savior.
My prayers often include those whom I just come across in life as well.
"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16.
We are still here because there's still plenty of people who need the gospel message preached to them.
Otherwise the Rapture of the Church would have already occurred.
Romans 12:18 "If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men."
It's not always going to be possible.
Jesus said that those who wish to live Godly in Christ Jesus are going to be persecuted. The light is going to most assuredly garner a reaction as salt garners a reaction to wounds.
It's our standing firm in Christ that gets the world's attention. Jesus compromised nothing in His life before His family or His Disciples.
I really liked that quote from Spurgeon. It's a very apt reminder of a life in Christ. Our not standing firm in our relationship with Jesus sends the message that staying on the highway to Hell is ok.
Our people pleasing isn't going to help anyone.
Pray for your relationships with those around you. I have some really complicated people in my life at this moment. I will not compromise my relationship with Jesus because of social convention or because of political reasons or policies at work because of laws passed. We are to be the light of Jesus Christ in this world...not the grayed or dim light.
To be truthful...my prayers for these complicated people include some of the same things that King David prayed concerning those in his life. The destruction of their plans for their lives that keep them from the righteous life that God desires for them. To destroy their plans until they recognize their need for salvation in Christ Jesus.
The prelude to the Great Flood was everyone doing what was right in their own eyes.
Jesus said that it would be the same when He returns...and that's the world in which we live.
Pray for those who persecute you.
This is part of God's will for you.
Pray for those in authority over you.
This is part of God's will for you.
Stand firm.
All NASB 1995 and NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission. (C) Lockman Foundation
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