Feel Like Target Practice?

Serving Christ can be a daunting task, this I am finding out over and over.  The more committed you are to Jesus, the more committed the enemy is to taking you out.  For those of us that serve in ministry, we have a full-out target on our backs!

Maybe you are the butt of jokes for choosing a life that honors Christ.  Maybe having a biblical stance on certain subjects causes much judgment from others.  Maybe you are harassed for being a Christian.  Maybe your heart and motives are called into question and misinterpreted.  Maybe you have to deal with people who indeed hate you.  Maybe you have been betrayed.  I can relate with you on all of these!  It can be quite discouraging, to say the least.

But friends, we mustn’t stop.  We mustn’t give in.  Our world is aching for salvation from darkness.  Our task is massive, and it requires that we fight the good fight of faith with holy perseverance and healthy perspective!

The wonderful Mother Teresa once said,

     People are often unreasonable and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway.

     If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.

     If you are honest, people may cheat you.  Be honest anyway.

     If you find happiness, people may be jealous.  Be happy anyway.

     The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.  Do good anyway.

     Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough.  Give your best anyway.

     For you see, in the end, it is between you and God.  It was never between you and them anyway.

Also, listen to what 1 Timothy 6:11-14 has to say:  “You belong to God, so keep away from [falsehood and sin].  Try your best to please God and to be like Him.  Be faithful, loving, dependable, and gentle.  Fight a good fight for the faith and claim eternal life.  Now I ask you to make a promise.  Promise to obey completely and fully all that you have been told until our Lord Jesus Christ returns.”

With that, wherever you find yourself today, be encouraged!  I pray that your faith would be strengthened and your passion meter would be off the charts.  Choose joy!  And never stop loving!  I am for you, and God is totally for you, always and ever.  We will reap a great harvest!!

For God,

Josh xx