Do people speak well of me?

Do people speak well of me?

This is the question that I struggle with this morning and I hope that you will struggle with it too. I know the answer (for me). The answer even feels good on the outside.

I struggle with this question because I read the words of Jesus this morning. And it sounds to me that living a life where people always speak well of me is a life that Jesus hates. He hates it. Why? Because people hated Jesus! People hated Jesus (and still do), but yet Jesus calls me to live as he lived and to be like Him, just like Him! To be so much like Him that people hate me.

Here's what he says:

Luke 6:22 - "Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man!"

Luke 6:26 - "Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets."

WOW!! HAVE YOU READ THIS? HAVE YOU HEARD THE WORDS OF JESUS?

He says to REJOICE when people hate you and when people despise your name! (Lk 6:23) Why? Because our reward is not here on earth. We are not here to build up a name for ourselves, to be famous, to look good, or even to make people happy! We are here to build up the name of Christ and to Glorify the Father. Friends, the truth that is found in the word of God hurts. It's uncomfortable. And yes it will make you mad.

But Jesus didn’t come to make people happy, He came to redeem His chosen!
So what are we wandering around this world wasting our time for? Why are we spending so much time caring about the way we look and the way we come across that we neuter the Gospel? Yeah, I said that---because that’s what we do!

This life is not about being popular or being likable, it is about being faithful. Jesus never promised us success. He promised us that He would never leave us or forsake us and he promised us that if we follow Him we will suffer for it.

Do people speak well of you?