When Sticks and Stones Come Your Way, Duck

Social media can become pretty unsocial. I have noticed more and more people posting

negative things about Christians or accusing Christians not to care because of the actions of

a certain politician. The world has a negative view of Christians. Some of that is prophetic

and some of that is our fault.

Let’s first look at what we can’t fix, people not liking us because we are believers in Christ.

Jesus is speaking to the apostles and giving them one last lesson before He is arrested. He

speaks of how the world will hate those who follow him, “If the world hates you, know that

it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but

because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”. That’s

from John 15:18-19.

There are some things you don’t have control over. How someone feels about you based on your belief you can’t fix. You can try. You can treat them with incredible kindness and let them see Christ in you. But be prepared for it not to work. And that’s ok. As a believer we are commanded to try. As I mentioned in our Sunday night class recently, you can’t force someone to accept the Gospel.

Which takes us to the thing we can control, which we just mentioned. We can control ourselves. One reason non-believers don’t like believers is because over the years we have given off a bad vibe. Those Christians who think they are better because they have the Holy Spirit. Those Christians who have bad reactions in public or say the wrong things when the time comes.

We can have better control over ourselves if we do what James says in chapter one, verse 19, “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” Seems easy enough, right? I mean, how hard can that be?

Well, at times, it’s really hard. But we have to do our best, then pray God fills in the gap where we fall short. Remember what Paul wrote in Ephesians chapter two, verse 13, “13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” God is working in you. You are and will always be a work in progress. Don’t worry about sticks and stones. But be aware of your words that can hurt others and your

and Jesus’ reputation.

See you Sunday!

Pastor Glen

Be An Influencer, Show Others Christ

Can you imagine teaching yourself Greek at four years old? Being the top of your elementary school at 5 or enrolling in college by 14? Now imagine, because of an illness, you pass away at 28 years old and you were such a positive influence on your community 7,000 people show up for your funeral.

That’s what happened in 1843 when Robert Murray McCheyne passed from typhus. McCheyne knew early on that God was calling him to something great. He committed himself to prayer every morning. He wrote poetry, hymns and letters concerning faith, God and the church. By the age of 22 he was the pastor of St. Peter’s Church in Dundee, which had over 1,100 regular attenders.

McCheyne was a great influencer of his day. This was before the internet, cell phones and social media apps. In 28 years, this young lad in Scotland had such a positive influence on his community, that men openly wept as they walked down the road after learning of his passing. What’s amazing is that he still influences us today.

When I think of McCheyne, I think of First Timothy chapter four. In verse 12, Paul writes, “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” Paul was telling a young Timothy to not let your youth be a stumbling block for people. They can and will look past it if you make these things a priority.

What is it that is a stumbling block between you and sharing the Gospel with others? We sometimes find that our minds work against us, and we convince ourselves that we are unworthy to share the Gospel, to act in a way that points people to Christ. Of course we’re not worthy, none of us are worthy. God chooses to use “unworthy” people for His purpose.

Sometimes we convince ourselves of some reason why we can’t share the Gospel or teach, or sing, or play or whatever the church may need. We need to stop making excuses. Go, live a life that points people to Jesus. Become an influencer for Christ, for the Kingdom, for God.

See you Sunday!

Pastor Glen