(unmarked journal entry – presumably from matthew 10)

being sent out is not just a physical condition. it’s not just something that happens to your body. as Christians, we are supposed to serve as witnesses of the Kingdom of God to the world around us…that is a basic part of what we do.

we take the message with us, no matter what may be going on, to the world around us, to the people we encounter. This isn’t going to win us all sorts of friends and popularity contests. we are going to make people uncomfortable. they may hate and accost us. if we claim to be Christians and everyone likes us, then we aren’t doing it right. if in our walk for God, everyone is receptive of us, we are compromising somewhere.

the peace of Christ comes to us in those times, it isn’t something we’ll receive from the world, so we can’t look for it there. we cannot expect to find the peace of Christ from those who do not know Him, but we can be sure that they will receive it from us as we share with them and they are convinced to live for Christ as we do.

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i am a people pleaser. i want everyone to be happy with me, but i do know and fully understand that that will never be possible. i also get that i am not out to please those who do not follow Jesus. because in doing so, i would have to compromise the Truth. so, my daily concern is living a life that honors God, and gives Him the glory.

in focusing on Him, and following the lead of His Spirit as i communicate the Good News about Jesus, i must trust that He will open doors and hearts. i must trust that He will go on ahead of me, and know that it may not be my place to see the full effect of His Word on their hearts. i may be there to plant the seed, or water, but i may not get to see the harvest. i must be mindful and john the baptizer was that He must become greater, i must become less.

Jesus should so overshadow me, that He is the only one who is recognized, and the only one who is praised. blessings be to Him!