Ever
just been minding your own business, not bothering a single, solitary soul and
it seems like folks just start picking with you? Like for NO reason. Are you pretty cordial to everyone but there is
STILL a person (or persons) who seem to always have a negative comment
to make every time you say or do something, no matter what it is? Every time
you hear their voice, your face uncontrollably does this…
Yep, that person! …BUT this isn’t about them, it’s about...
I’d
like to submit to you that there IS
a reason they pick at you… You say you’re
a Christian. That doesn’t seem like NEARLY enough reason for them to
come at you, does it? I can assure you that it is.
"Now,
who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But
even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So
don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead,
you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your
Christian hope, always be ready to
explain it. But
do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then
if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good
life you live because you belong to Christ.” – 1 Peter 3:13-16
The above passage tells
us a couple things: (1) people WILL
try you, (2) you WILL be questioned
about your faith, (3) ALWAYS be ready,
gentle & respectful. (P.S. – this is an EXCELLENT situation to
practice meekness! Do NOT let their attitude or actions affect your cheerful disposition!)
As Christians we must
realize that we are under CONSTANT scrutiny from the world…don’t fall
for the lies: they ARE watching what
you say, what you do, who you associate with, where you go, what you wear, etc.
And just HOW do I know that? How many times have YOU heard someone ask you or someone else “Oh, I thought you were a Christian?”
So now that we KNOW that we’re being watched, what’s
OUR next step as Christians? We have to start LIVING out our gratitude
for Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross. It’s
some things we can’t do anymore, some places we can’t go anymore, some people
we can’t hang around with anymore, some activities we can’t participate in
anymore, some things we can’t say anymore. We may be the ONLY “church” or “Bible” that
some people encounter.
“You
spent enough time in the past doing what unbelievers like to do. You were
promiscuous, had sinful desires, got drunk, went to wild parties, and took part
in the forbidden worship of false gods. Unbelievers
insult you now because they are surprised that you no longer join them in the
same excesses of wild living.” – 1 Peter 4:3-4 <--THAT'S why they pick on you.
Our actions will speak louder than anything we profess from our mouths. And I'm not I saying that it’s easy to change our behavior(s) because it wasn’t for me! But I realized the
more time I spent with God, in prayer, around godly people and places, the easier
it becomes (because this is a continuous growth process)! (SN: you can read more about that in “Choices”)
Trust that those who
have not come to adore Christ yet as WE
already have ARE watching to see if
what WE said lines up with how WE live…and
remember, “Keep a
close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right
for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.”
– 1 Tim 4:16
Its is my prayer that you fully trust and believe that every good work that God has started in you will be seen through to completion at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (Phil 1:6). I pray you are encouraged to live boldly & openly before the world declaring the goodness of Christ with meekness, grace, respect & humility and that you rest in the power of the Holy Spirit to do so!
I love you! :-)
Allison
