Thursday, May 13, 2010

Opposition

May 13, 2010

OPPOSITION


Don't like it.

Opposition.

Something that pushes in the opposite way.
Disagreements. Contrariness. Resistance.
Stress producer. Challenger.

Opposition.

I have this idea of the perfect today...and something (someone?) messes it up.
I have this idyllic way of viewing a good life...and mine goes south.
I have a plan that will make everyone happy...and everyone else has a different idea.
Opposition.

I want everyone to like me...and instead...

Jesus faced a lot of opposition:
*They "hated him.
*They "accused him of leading the people astray.
*They "were angry with him
*They "were seeking to kill him.
*The "crowd was muttering things about him
*The "authorities sent officers to arrest him
*There "was a division of the people over him.

Is the above 7 a summation of the total of the opposition he faced?

Nope
...it is a listing of some of the lowlights of the opposition he faced in just one chapter of John
- an early one at that -chapter 7.

Opposition - feels very yuck...but it can lead us into accurate reflection of our Lord.

In many cases (like with Jesus) it is tangible evidence we are heading the right way and speaking and living with strength.

So how do we endure in the face of opposition??...
How do we keep a right spirit and the gladness of God in our souls?

"1. Run with endurance the race that is set before (you,
2. Look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of your faith,
3. Reach for "the joy set before (as you) endure this cross,
4. Despise the shame
5. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted." Hebrews 12:1-3

"For the joy set before...endure the cross." Jesus could see past the temporalness of opposition to the lasting rewards of eternity.

If we can see further down line it will help us as well.


Opposition. We all face it.

Let's stand with Jesus as we do.

The best is yet to come.

Selah.

David

4 comments:

justagirl416 said...

Thank you Dave, as I really needed to hear this today. These were encouraging words for me that came at exactly the right time. Sometimes, I feel as though so many things are against me and there is much opposition in my life. Jesus endured much more than me and you reminded me that I do not want for Jesus' death to be in vain. He gave up His life for me, so I could have so much more than what I have now. I will remember that today and continue to fight and not give up. Thank you for that.

Spirit Life said...

Thanks so much for your comment.
It encourages me greatly.
Press on...

prayerfriend said...

Along with putting our armor on each morning, why not also strategically employ a daily morning recall of Hebrews 12:1-3? Dave, thank you for your encouragement! "Consider him who endured...."

Spirit Life said...

My hope with each entry has been to be of encouragement to others. You have brought that to me today! Thank you!