We can very easily become complacent and we may feel like just going with the flow. We don't want to offend people, but if we are truly following the truth we will offend people because the Cross is offensive to those who are perishing. When I say we will offend people I do not mean being a jerk and mean spirited, but we need to proclaim the truth about God and His Holy Word. When we proclaim the truth there will be people who will be offended because they don't what to repent of their sinful ways and turn to the living God who loves them.
There will be people who will not like us because we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and we want to please Him and we don't want to do what the world is doing. Jesus tells us plainly how to handle those people who hate us. We can read what He says in Luke 6:27-36 which says,
"27 “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you.
28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.
29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also.
30 Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back.
31 Do to others as you would like them to do to you.
32 “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them!
33 And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much!
34 And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.
35 “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.
36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate."
We believers are not to be hateful and angry towards unbelievers especially those who hate us. We must remember that they are not our true enemy. Our enemy is the devil and that is who the people of this world are serving if they haven't come to know Christ as their Lord and Savior.
We are called to love them and pray for them. Loving someone doesn't mean we say what they are doing is right. We need to tell people the truth about themselves, about God, and how to be reconciled back to God through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
Sometimes we get caught up in the philosophy of, "Preach Christ and when necessary use words."
Well, if we don't verbally tell people about Christ and that we are followers of Jesus because He saved us from our sins, the people around us may just think we are nice and good people.
Faith comes by hearing and hearing comes by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). We need to tell people in a compassionate and loving way about the Lord because we genuinely care about them and we don't want them to spend eternity in hell.
Let's not keep Jesus a secret anymore this Christmas season. Let's take this opportunity to tell someone about the Lord Jesus Christ our Immanuel.
Lord,
Help us to love our enemies.
We pray for those who don't like us because we follow You.
Lord, Grant us the courage and boldness and kindness to proclaim the truth of the Gospel to those in our families, our communities, and throughout the world.
May we stand up for the Lord Jesus.
We praise Your Name O Lord.
In Jesus Name we pray,
Amen.
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