Now the men who were holding Jesus in custody were mocking Him and beating Him, and they blindfolded Him, saying, "Prophesy, who is the one who hit You?" And they were saying many other things against Him, blaspheming. ~Luke 22:63-65
He didn't take the easy road or follow the crowd.
Then it happened that as Jesus was reclining at the table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were dining with Jesus and His disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, "Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?" But when Jesus heard this, He said, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire compassion, and not sacrifice,' for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners." ~Matthew 9:10-13
And He is to be our example.
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. ~Ephesians 5:1-2
We should be walking in His footsteps.
And He [Jesus] summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." ~Mark 8:34
Not trying to be popular so the world will like us, but being set apart so the world can see a difference in us, as children of God.
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. ~Romans 12:1-2
Do you look more like the world, with its popularity, doing what's easy? Or are you different, even unpopular, for NOT following the crowd?
I really, really, really love this post!! I've been thinking about this a lot lately. I read a scripture the other day about not being concerned with our reputation and it's true. We are to be giving Him all the glory at all times and our focus should be on Him and what He's doing and not on us and what we are doing or where we fit in in this world. Thanks for this post - I loved it!
ReplyDeleteI just love those verses from Ephesians. We have gone through some family deaths this past year, and my 3 year old was just asking me this morning, "Why do we get to be alive again in heaven?" What Good News, that Jesus gave his life so we can live in heaven!
ReplyDelete