Matthew 10:16-22, 27-28 Secret Agent For God

Jesus made it clear that His people would live in such contradistinction to the world that it would bring conviction to those who don't know God which in turn would cause an often violent reaction in them. What is it about our society that has changed the truth of Scripture? Is it possible that it is not the Scripture but we who have changed?

Don't misunderstand me. It should be the last thing we desire, that the world would hate us and persecute us. I'm not suggesting, as some would, that the more people who hate you the better Christian you really are. Our text indicates that, without our trying, the life of Christ in us will cause (some) others to hate us, even some in our own families may fall into this category.

But we have a better idea, don't we. Our plan is often that we should not live such a life as to cause that kind of reaction in others. We compromise, refrain from standing up for the truth and "fit in" so that others won't think badly of us.

The story is told of a Minnesota lad who was going to the forests of Canada to be a logger. His Christian parents were very concerned about his fragile faith but off he went. A year later, when he returned home to visit, his parents asked how he was doing, whether the men had reacted to his Christian life. "Oh no," he replied, "they never found out I was a Christian".

My own life was turned around by such a challenge. I worked for Montgomery Wards in appliance service at the time. During the annual inventory and I was working with a young man new to the company. He took the opportunity to share his faith in Jesus and stated that he attended a Baptist church. That emboldened me to share that I was raised a Lutheran and had played the organ for church since I was 12 years old and had always been active in church (although at that time I was backslidden). His comment was something like; "Gee, Bob, I never would have known". God used that, and similar things, to cause me to repent and turn back to Him.

What about you? Are you a "secret agent for God"? If you are not experiencing the life of Christ in a way that lives in contradistinction to the lifestyle of the world and brings conviction, why not?

"Lord, help us so to live that your life is manifested in us. Let us live as your ambassadors, your representatives on this earth, your body in action. Let us, by intent and purpose, be winsome and harmless as doves, but let us also be faithful to your call on our lives. May your Holy Spirit cause us to live godly in Christ Jesus, to seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness first and foremost, and may you be honored and glorified regardless of the cost."

Amen - let it be so.
Shalom

Bob Goldsby

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City Harvest Church Vancouver, WA