Am I at Odds?

Matthew 10:21-22 - Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. 

The Bible teaches that if we follow Christ we will be at odds with those who do not understand the meaning of receiving Christ. Matthew 10 above explains what could happen.

One might wonder, if that is the case why would we choose Christ over others? How could that be a decision one would want to make? I keep coming back to where in the Word it says the road is narrow when we follow Christ. Believers are often considered narrow minded. We stick to the same story...Jesus saves. Do we believe Him and what He says or do we believe the world? There are few, in the grand scheme of things, who actually understand receiving Christ for our salvation and taking a firm stand to do so.

How much do we love someone? Do we love them if we don't want them to know the truth? They can still reject it; at least we have done our part. They can reject the scripture that says Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1John 2:15) That's up to them.

First we need to recall that God so LOVED the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever (that includes all people: all tribes, tongues, religious beliefs and nations) believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) God so loved...Jesus so loved...By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (1John 3:16) 

These scriptures are the truth of God's Word. They should be our foundation if we call ourselves Christ followers. Many can say they are Christians because they are of non-Jesus believing faiths...their faiths are in a rock or statue or oppression and power.

Second, remember, Jesus was not liked by all people He came into contact. The death that He went through is like (but nowheres near) the rejection we might, or do, go through. It happens. We must accept it. It's the end result that matters. We must endure to the end. We must not change our tune.

Look what sorta sums it up right there...we also ought to lay down our lives...not necessarily giving up our lives unto physical death but giving up our SELF and doing as God desires we do...preach the Gospel, in season and out...not being concerned what others will think...because it is the will of the Father. God gave, Jesus gave, we should give.

All this love and giving, while some will not receive it, brings eternal life...in Christ. The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me. (Matthew 11:5-6)

Oh, that my lips would speak my thoughts!! As the scripture below states, so is our message to the world...or anyone who will listen. I can tell you stories.....wanna listen?

John 3:17 - For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.