“A Prophetic Word” Day 12: You may lose “friends” because of your convictions.

““Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven. “Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. ‘I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Your enemies will be right in your own household!’”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10:32-36‬ ‭NLT‬‬

For the most part—unless someone has some complex emotional or psychological issues—we all want to be liked and to get along with others.

Additionally, along with the desire to be liked and get along with others, is the desire to fit in with a group. And certainly, as Christians, we must show ourselves friendly. Our dealings with all people must be done in an attitude of love: “Nobody cares how much you know if they don’t know how much you care.” An attitude of love is supposed to be the sign of being a true disciple of Christ (see John 13:35).

All that being said, there comes a time when what you believe as a result of your relationship with God in Jesus Christ, may—by itself—make you offensive to even those who are the closest to you. In our opening scripture, we see Jesus referencing this very dynamic.

Now, some may feel torn to a certain extent, feeling that their relationship with the Lord is somehow alienating them from those they love. As such, this may cause them to want to just keep their convictions to themselves to avoid controversy. They may even come up with some conscience-satisfying rationale that makes their silence palatable, somehow serving “the greater good.”

Sadly, we are entering into a time where there is increasing pressure to conform to a certain way of thinking, or, at least “go along to get along.” In fact, it seems that other faiths are much more ltolerated and defended by the world system than our Christian faith. Even many churches have taken down their crosses, stopped talking about sin and the need for repentance, neglect talking about the soon coming of Jesus Christ, or operating in the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Sadly, the list of things churches will no longer do, or things they wouldn’t have done before, but do now, grows longer and longer. Child of God, you cannot find that rationale or doctrine in the Bible.

Indeed, we are supposed to be salt and light. We are not to take part in sinful behavior, but rather expose it by our own example of obedience to God. Unfortunately, some of the behavior in which Christian churches or individuals take part under the guise of being more “inclusive,” actually border on—or have completely slipped into—behavior that denies Christ. And as we see (again referencing our opening scripture), this doesn’t work out well in terms of eternity.

John warns us to not be surprised at the fact that the world hates us.

“We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Peter instructs that living a holy lifestyle will cause us to be slandered, but that the day will

come when those who do so, are judged for it.

“Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you. But remember that they will have to face God, who stands ready to judge everyone, both the living and the dead.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭4:4-5‬ ‭NLT

Remember: Experiencing loss of friends, family, even those we dearly love, because of our relationship with Jesus Christ, puts us in good company.

““If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me.”

‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭18‬-‭21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Yes, think of it, if they hate Jesus, the God Man who lived a perfect life and died for the sins of the world, it shouldn’t be surprising that there will be those who hate us as well. Yes, we are in very good company.

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!