reputation.

We are not promised that we would have a good reputation for the sake of God's truth, in fact the complete opposite is promised.

The Corinthian church was obsessed with reputation. Paul had to call them out by being sarcastic with them comparing the apostles lives to their lives (and what they valued).

1 Corinthians 4:10-13

"We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world."

He contrasted what his and other apostles reputations were to that of the "noble" and "respected" Corinthians.
Look at what Jesus says regarding the reputation of his followers:

Luke 6:22-23

"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! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets."

So, don't shun slander for the sake of the Son of Man, accept it as a blessing!

Preach it

2 Timothy 4:2-5

Preach the word, be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Take note of the fact that Paul said nothing about how people would respond. He did not say anything about the size of Timothy's church, or how much money they received, or how influential it was. Paul did not tell Timothy that the world would respect, revere, or even accept him, in fact Paul's emphasis was on commitment, not success or acceptance.

In many churches we see them infatuated with standards of success, rather than fruits of righteousness. We need to be focused on growing to be more like Christ rather than how many people go to our church, or how much money the church takes in. We need our focus to be on God rather than success. We should be focused on our commitment to Christ and our ministry rather than the success, or popularity of our ministry.

It's a life and eternal salvation matter. Matthew 7:13-14

13"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy[a] that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few."

This is so important. It's very scary to think that, that many "christians" nowadays just, they just don't realize what this verse is saying. They go to church on the weekends and live THEIR OWN lives during the week. They do the exact opposite of what this verse says to do.

It's scary that many of these so called "christians" might not go to heaven. It's scary and very sad.

It's heartbreaking that many people know about this verse, and they just choose to ignore it. They would rather live a life of comfort, of ease. It's sad. How many people do you know that are like this? I bet you know alot! Pray for those that behave like this.

Living for God is not easy, especially on a young teen boy such as myself. I want to participate in all the sinful, "fun" things that many of the teens my age participate in. I'm not saying that I don't slip sometimes, because I do, lots of times.

The main point is: Don't go the easy way out. Please!

Pray that God grant you, me, everybody self-control and wisdom, and endurance, to resist the temptation to give up, to not give in to unimportant wordly objects. It's a life and eternal salvation matter

Fear of Man 2

Romans 8:31-35

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

We should not be afraid of what this world can do to us. Romans clearly says that because of Christ's death and resurrection, nothing can separate us from God's love. Not trials, not stress, not persecution, not hunger, not shame, not danger, and not even death. So why do continue to fear these things. Why do we fear what man can do to us when we know that because of Christ's blood we have God's love. Because of the amazing sacrifice Christ made, we owe him nothing less than everything. Because of Christ's sacrifice how can we let the fear of man stop us from doing what Christ has commanded us.

Matthew 28-18-20

And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

We can not let the fear of what man can do to us stop us from doing what Christ has commanded us. Let this encourage you to hold fast to God's love and to no longer fear man.

fear of man

Matthew 22:16

"Teacher," they said, "we know that you are a man of integrity
and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.
You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who
they are."

I am reading a book right now called "When People Are Big and God is Small." The author says this:

"The fear of man wields awesome power. The praise of others can seem more glorious to us than the praise of God."...Peer pressure is perhaps the most tragic form of the fear of man. We spend too much time wondering what others may have thought about our outfit or the comment we made. We see opportunities to testify about Christ, but we avoid them. We are more concerned about looking stupid (a fear of man) than we are about acting sinfully (fear of the Lord)"

Please let these words encourage you not to care what people think about you. Care only about God getting the most glory possible. Don't let the fear of man stop you from doing what Christ has commanded us. Share the gospel, stop sinning by fearing man more than God.

Psalm 27: 1-4

The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
When evildoers assail me, to eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall.
Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.
One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple.