HOSTILITY

They killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out.  They are not pleasing to God, but hostile to all men.  I Thess. 2:15

In my earlier years, I struggled to understand the hostility shown to Jesus and his prophets.  Someone coming from heaven to deliver people from Satan’s kingdom should be popular.  A man who offers Himself up as the perfect Lamb should cause people to weep with joy that their sins could finally be forgiven.   Everyone should run to Him.  How could this loving miracle worker end up on a cross?

The question still lingers. Why would a ministry that teaches radical grace come under fire?  The message of the Gospel is about love.  One would think that this would be good news for everyone but not only isn’t the message welcomed by the masses, it can most offensive to those who are religious, to the ones who already claim to know God.

Paul reaches out to any of us who take our call seriously to teach the Word of God with power, with integrity and authority.  His words penetrate our confusion when we experience hostility instead of popularity, when we second-guess ourselves because the sparks are flying.  While a few Christian leaders enjoy the prestige of having their books end up on a bestseller’s list, most are under fire for teaching Jesus’ words.  May our review of Paul’s experience comfort us and set our feet firmly back on the narrow path.

Jesus’ message is about love and grace; but it is also about dying to self, taking up a cross and following Him into suffering.  He was reviled and spit upon, so were His friends, and we should not be taken back when we experience the same.  Who will be among our greatest critics?  Those who are religious.  Within the first five minutes of preaching in the synagogue, people picked up stones to murder our Christ.  His words fell with the power of clashing swords.  So let not our expectations be unrealistic!  Let us be fueled by Paul and the prophets so that the fires of their conviction burn in our gut.  We’ll know we’re effective when our words draw some and repel others.  Consistent neutral reactions are never the result of preaching the power of the cross.

Don’t let me comfort when You would convict.  Don’t let me convict when You would comfort.  Fill me with Your Spirit to know the difference.  Amen