Post by mommadee48 on Jan 27, 2023 12:37:40 GMT -5
Dear friends,
I find it interesting how different individuals respond to us when we are in their presence, whether they are friends, relatives, or total strangers. Typically, we see three different kinds of responses: Those who will celebrate us, our talents, and our personality and see the best in us. Their reaction could roughly be summed up as, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord."
On the other hand, not everyone will share this opinion. If their view in life is somewhat jaded, then they could respond in a completely different way. They're more interested in challenging others, instead of enjoying and appreciating the differences. Hence, they raise the question,
"By what authority do you do these things?'
And then there are those who are openly envious or self-centered. Their demeanor is quite extreme. They don't care whether their words or actions hurt people. They simply do not want people around them, no matter what they have to offer. They're quick to depart and show no merch. Their response is very swift: Crucify him, crucify him."
Does any of this sound familiar?
Unti someone speaks, we generally have no idea what they are thinking about us. We would like to believe the best about ourselves and even assume that we're liked by everyone, but experience shows us otherwise. This doesn't mean that we should act coldly towards others or withdraw ourselves from society, but just be aware that some people will celebrate you and others will only tolerate you.
Should we change and try to conform to the expectations of those around us in order to feel accepted?
Or should we just be ourselves, as God created us to be?
Temperaments differ from one person to another. Our gifts vary based on God's grace and his purpose for our lives. The same holds true with likes and dislikes. We're not all going to share the same desires as everyone else. What the Lord has anointed and called you to do differs from what He's called others to do. Although we are supposed to love everyone, we are not called to understand everyone. Once we get this in order, then we can begin to appreciate each other's differences instead of criticizing them.
Then why not learn to value one another's gifts and enjoy the blessings that God has placed upon them?
Encourage people to realize their full potential in Christ and to enjoy their journey.
If we examine the life and ministry of Jesus, the way people reacted to him always varied. While some saw value in him and what he brought to the table, others never stopped challenging him. Large crowds followed Jesus, yet some people did not want him around. Others worshipped him, and some wanted to murder him. Let's examine a few passages from the Bible to see the various reactions that Jesus received for just being himself and not trying to live up to the expectations of others.
In "Mark" chapter 5, we read about a demonized man whom Jesus set free. After the demons were cast out, they pleaded with Jesus not to send them out of the country or region. Upon the villagers learning what had happened and finding this man clothed and in his right mind, they asked Jesus to leave their region. They preferred the pigs, into which the demons had entered, to the Son of God. This was quite the response, but it reflected where their heart was. They saw no value or goodness in what had just taken place. Sure, they were upset due to their economic loss as pig farmers. But to them, money seemed to hold more value than the life and freedom of another human being.
READ MARK chapter 5:8-17 (KJV).
As for the man who was set free, he went on to become a missionary evangelist and traveled far and wide, telling "everyone he met about what Jesus had done for him."
(MARK Ch. 5:20). His initial response after being delivered was a desire to travel with Jesus, but the Lord had other plans. "Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee." (MARK Ch. 5:19). So, off he went, honoring the Lord and encouraging others! The one voice that should always matter the most is the Lord's!
Later on in Mark chapter 5, we read about a religious leader named Jairus whose little girl was deathly ill. This father sought the Lord and asked him to come and pray for his daughter. However, before they arrived home, the girl died. Let's pick up the reading in verse, Mark 5: 35-42 (kJV)
Notice Jairus' response to Jesus after his instruction, "Be not afraid, only believe."
We don't hear of one negative comment coming out of Jairus' mouth upon learning of the news about his daughter. He simply kept his faith neutral and followed the Lord. However, as they got home, they received quite a different response from the people. The Lord was not undecided as to whether or not he was going to do something for the little girl. He came to help with the situation, and he did.
Jesus said to the crowd, " Why make ye this ado, and cry? The damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn."
One of two things was happening in Jairus' home: either the people had absolutely no idea who it was that stood in their midst, or their pride and intellectualism were getting in the way. In either case, Jesus sent them all out, thereby removing all manner of doubt and belief. Remember, there will those who value you, enjoy your gifts, respect your calling, and appreciate your differences, and those who simply do not understand you. But that's okay because we're not all called to please people; we're called to please God!!! We'll look at one more instance. It's found in MARK, chapter 6: 1-6 (KJV).
In this passage, we see a similar pattern taking place. In Jesus' hometown, some embraced him and received his teaching as truth. They were the ones who received healing. On the other hand, the others took offense. They had an issue with the heart. Their pride was in the way. They did not respect Jesus, the anointing, the teaching, or even his call. They did not appreciate his differences. They could not look past the fact that this was "the carpenter, the son of Mary." And because of their pride, which led them to be offended, they were filled with unbelief. Consequently, they missed out on having their needs met even though the answer they were looking for was standing right in front of them.
Ss we've just witnessed, people's reactions were drastically different in most instances. I think the two biggest reasons why we don't always seem to "click" with certain individuals and appreciate their differences are because either our hearts aren't right or theirs aren't right.
What do I mean by this?
Well, for example, in certain instances, it may be that there is unforgiveness in the heart. Due to being hurt or disappointed in life, this can cause people to come across as harsh or "cold natured," whether it be toward us or toward someone else. We may misinterpret someone's cold behavior and take it personally, thinking that they don't like us for some reason. But in reality, it may have nothing to do with us but rather with their dealing with unforgiveness and hurt. Until this is dealt with, people will not understand why others say the things they say and do the things they do. This goes both ways and applies to us too.
As we have read, when Jesus started to teach in his hometown, pride was another major issue that was present among the people. Over time, who hasn't shown signs of pride in their own lives or seen it manifested in others? When this element is present, it's not easy to be liked, and usually, those around us leave.
How can we expect others to listen to us if our voice and word choices are condescending?
Likewise, if the Lord has graced us with a unique ability that stands out among our peers, just how well will this gift be received by others if we lift ourselves above them and try to make ourselves appear more important?
The problem usually lies in the heart of man. When we choose to love God and love others, then we'll be looking at the positive attributes and characteristics in others instead of finding gault and nit-picking. Sure, there will be people who you prefer to spend time with and others whom you'd rather spend time away from. However, that does not make one more valuable in God's sight than the other. (JOHN 3:16) I encourage you to learn to appreciate the differences in others, and not be so quick to judge others or criticize them. We don't know what they might be doing through, so be that encouragement and blessing to them today. Your kindness and generosity will fine their way back to you in the long run!
I find it interesting how different individuals respond to us when we are in their presence, whether they are friends, relatives, or total strangers. Typically, we see three different kinds of responses: Those who will celebrate us, our talents, and our personality and see the best in us. Their reaction could roughly be summed up as, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord."
On the other hand, not everyone will share this opinion. If their view in life is somewhat jaded, then they could respond in a completely different way. They're more interested in challenging others, instead of enjoying and appreciating the differences. Hence, they raise the question,
"By what authority do you do these things?'
And then there are those who are openly envious or self-centered. Their demeanor is quite extreme. They don't care whether their words or actions hurt people. They simply do not want people around them, no matter what they have to offer. They're quick to depart and show no merch. Their response is very swift: Crucify him, crucify him."
Does any of this sound familiar?
Unti someone speaks, we generally have no idea what they are thinking about us. We would like to believe the best about ourselves and even assume that we're liked by everyone, but experience shows us otherwise. This doesn't mean that we should act coldly towards others or withdraw ourselves from society, but just be aware that some people will celebrate you and others will only tolerate you.
Should we change and try to conform to the expectations of those around us in order to feel accepted?
Or should we just be ourselves, as God created us to be?
Temperaments differ from one person to another. Our gifts vary based on God's grace and his purpose for our lives. The same holds true with likes and dislikes. We're not all going to share the same desires as everyone else. What the Lord has anointed and called you to do differs from what He's called others to do. Although we are supposed to love everyone, we are not called to understand everyone. Once we get this in order, then we can begin to appreciate each other's differences instead of criticizing them.
Then why not learn to value one another's gifts and enjoy the blessings that God has placed upon them?
Encourage people to realize their full potential in Christ and to enjoy their journey.
If we examine the life and ministry of Jesus, the way people reacted to him always varied. While some saw value in him and what he brought to the table, others never stopped challenging him. Large crowds followed Jesus, yet some people did not want him around. Others worshipped him, and some wanted to murder him. Let's examine a few passages from the Bible to see the various reactions that Jesus received for just being himself and not trying to live up to the expectations of others.
In "Mark" chapter 5, we read about a demonized man whom Jesus set free. After the demons were cast out, they pleaded with Jesus not to send them out of the country or region. Upon the villagers learning what had happened and finding this man clothed and in his right mind, they asked Jesus to leave their region. They preferred the pigs, into which the demons had entered, to the Son of God. This was quite the response, but it reflected where their heart was. They saw no value or goodness in what had just taken place. Sure, they were upset due to their economic loss as pig farmers. But to them, money seemed to hold more value than the life and freedom of another human being.
READ MARK chapter 5:8-17 (KJV).
As for the man who was set free, he went on to become a missionary evangelist and traveled far and wide, telling "everyone he met about what Jesus had done for him."
(MARK Ch. 5:20). His initial response after being delivered was a desire to travel with Jesus, but the Lord had other plans. "Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee." (MARK Ch. 5:19). So, off he went, honoring the Lord and encouraging others! The one voice that should always matter the most is the Lord's!
Later on in Mark chapter 5, we read about a religious leader named Jairus whose little girl was deathly ill. This father sought the Lord and asked him to come and pray for his daughter. However, before they arrived home, the girl died. Let's pick up the reading in verse, Mark 5: 35-42 (kJV)
Notice Jairus' response to Jesus after his instruction, "Be not afraid, only believe."
We don't hear of one negative comment coming out of Jairus' mouth upon learning of the news about his daughter. He simply kept his faith neutral and followed the Lord. However, as they got home, they received quite a different response from the people. The Lord was not undecided as to whether or not he was going to do something for the little girl. He came to help with the situation, and he did.
Jesus said to the crowd, " Why make ye this ado, and cry? The damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn."
One of two things was happening in Jairus' home: either the people had absolutely no idea who it was that stood in their midst, or their pride and intellectualism were getting in the way. In either case, Jesus sent them all out, thereby removing all manner of doubt and belief. Remember, there will those who value you, enjoy your gifts, respect your calling, and appreciate your differences, and those who simply do not understand you. But that's okay because we're not all called to please people; we're called to please God!!! We'll look at one more instance. It's found in MARK, chapter 6: 1-6 (KJV).
In this passage, we see a similar pattern taking place. In Jesus' hometown, some embraced him and received his teaching as truth. They were the ones who received healing. On the other hand, the others took offense. They had an issue with the heart. Their pride was in the way. They did not respect Jesus, the anointing, the teaching, or even his call. They did not appreciate his differences. They could not look past the fact that this was "the carpenter, the son of Mary." And because of their pride, which led them to be offended, they were filled with unbelief. Consequently, they missed out on having their needs met even though the answer they were looking for was standing right in front of them.
Ss we've just witnessed, people's reactions were drastically different in most instances. I think the two biggest reasons why we don't always seem to "click" with certain individuals and appreciate their differences are because either our hearts aren't right or theirs aren't right.
What do I mean by this?
Well, for example, in certain instances, it may be that there is unforgiveness in the heart. Due to being hurt or disappointed in life, this can cause people to come across as harsh or "cold natured," whether it be toward us or toward someone else. We may misinterpret someone's cold behavior and take it personally, thinking that they don't like us for some reason. But in reality, it may have nothing to do with us but rather with their dealing with unforgiveness and hurt. Until this is dealt with, people will not understand why others say the things they say and do the things they do. This goes both ways and applies to us too.
As we have read, when Jesus started to teach in his hometown, pride was another major issue that was present among the people. Over time, who hasn't shown signs of pride in their own lives or seen it manifested in others? When this element is present, it's not easy to be liked, and usually, those around us leave.
How can we expect others to listen to us if our voice and word choices are condescending?
Likewise, if the Lord has graced us with a unique ability that stands out among our peers, just how well will this gift be received by others if we lift ourselves above them and try to make ourselves appear more important?
The problem usually lies in the heart of man. When we choose to love God and love others, then we'll be looking at the positive attributes and characteristics in others instead of finding gault and nit-picking. Sure, there will be people who you prefer to spend time with and others whom you'd rather spend time away from. However, that does not make one more valuable in God's sight than the other. (JOHN 3:16) I encourage you to learn to appreciate the differences in others, and not be so quick to judge others or criticize them. We don't know what they might be doing through, so be that encouragement and blessing to them today. Your kindness and generosity will fine their way back to you in the long run!