Living Words of Encouragement
OH! To Be Like Jesus
Are you really willing to be like Jesus? Are you ready to pay the price? Are you willing to be talked about and ridiculed? Well, if they did it to Jesus why won’t they do it to you? If they shouted Hosanna one day when He came into town riding a donkey and then the next day, the same people said kill him; should you expect anything less?
 The world hates Jesus followers. Some of these people are even in the church reeking havoc.They come to church every Sunday looking good and smiling in your face. They think they hate you (really they hate the Jesus in you), but all the time they want to take your place. They say they are a Christian, but they are always talking negative about people. They want to take your place so people will see them, not because they love Jesus. Do you see the fruit they bear?
Jesus said “if the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the words I spoke to you: No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also… (John 15:18-26)
You must be willing to pay the price if you want to be an effective leader. You must be willing to pay the price to stand for Christ. You need to know and prepare for this cost before you begin. Christ suffered much for us, His children, and we too shall suffer in well doing.
We should not become discouraged when we know we are doing what is right. Paul goes into some detail about his sufferings in 1 Corinthians 11,
Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, and I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
Paul suffered many things:
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Overwhelming physical suffering. He was attacked, beaten and left for dead. All this because of his proclamation of the gospel.
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He faced the subtle antagonism of non-believers... Paul tells us that he is also threatened by the Gentiles. Every time we take a stand for Christ, we become a target. If you take a leadership position, you become a bigger target. This is often much more subtle and subversive. People will exclude you, ridicule you, and criticize you behind your back. These will usually become the same people that wanted you there in the beginning.
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Devastating attacks from within the church. The thought that a sister or brother in the Lord would turn on him. Some of the most painful blows come from these "false brothers and sisters" the ones we thought were our friends.
Remember to apply love, kindness and encouragement to everyone in the position that God has placed them in.
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