Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Though many will say they don’t care, I think none of us wants to be unpopular. Nevertheless, popularity can be deceiving. If you’ve paid any attention to recent presidential campaigns, you know that too much is made by pollsters regarding the candidates’ popularity ratings. The truth is that, in this case, a candidate’s popularity hinges mostly on the issues. In other words, if a candidate doesn’t embrace the issues I embrace, he won’t be too popular with me.
To typify this truth, we see the account in Acts, Chapter 4, of the time when Peter and John were preaching and teaching in the temple area in Jesus’ name after His resurrection. The priests, elders, and teachers of the law were greatly disturbed by this because many people were beginning to believe their message which was very different to their teachings. Peter and John were now preaching that salvation comes from believing in Christ rather than in following the Mosaic law so when they commanded them not to preach and teach anymore in the name of Jesus, Peter and John replied: “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges!” (Verse 19) The apostle, Paul, in his letter to the Galatian Church, said it this way: “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” (Gal. 1:10)
That being said, I hope none of our readers go out looking for ways to become unpopular. Rather, the main message that I’m trying to convey is that it is wise for us to seek ways in which we can please God. This includes loving and doing things for others, not seeking ways to see where we can step on their toes. It is also a reminder to us to not dislike others simply because they do, say, or, stand for things that we don’t.
Memory verse for the week: (Matthew 14:27) “But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
