My brain doesn’t naturally go to, “what will others think”? It’s why I’m able to be bold in the name of truth. My brain isn’t wired to care about what anyone else might think. So just for “fun”, every now and then I contemplate this concept. I do so, out of a place of wanting to understand what other people go through. I have compassion for others because we cannot help how our brains are wired. God designs them and our unique life experiences mold our brain functions. Diversity of personalities is vital to life on earth.
People whose brains DO wonder what others think, I seek to understand. Where other people’s minds lead them is important to grasp in order to have well rounded relationships. Perhaps it sounds silly or weird as you read this, but again, I don’t worry about what others think as they read the thoughts I share.
Okay so where am I going with this? Ive been thinking about doing what is right vs. doing what I’d actually want to do, the selfish thing, the “me centered” thing etc. And God reminded me of these two verses:
1 Corinthians 1:18
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20
Encountering Jesus and being changed, redeemed on a soul level is beautiful and healing. And then there is this other societal thing that occurs, it doesn’t drown out or diminish the contentment in my soul, but it exists nonetheless. And it will never go away. We must learn how to combat it with love. The societal concept I’m referring to is this, we are rejected and ignored by the world. Jesus followers are made fun of, we are bullied, we are made into caricatures, we are slandered and the list goes on. Everyone knows it happens and yet it is ignored.
But here is what remains, the Cross. The empty cross. It remains. It stands in our souls against all the rest. Because we know our Savior lives. We know he concurred death. We know because we are changed on the inside. And so, we press on understanding that the Cross changes everything for anyone who truly understands it deep in their soul.
We set aside what we prefer, which includes many things. We set aside our preference to be treated fairly and kindly, we set aside our selfish desires, we set aside our flesh, we set aside earthly and unhealthy momentary pleasures. We set aside our want to be understood.
Wouldn’t anyone prefer to be treated fairly? Don’t we all prefer a life where we aren’t made fun of and slandered? But after encountering Jesus, those preferences no longer drive our existence on earth. What drives us, is a beautiful desire to see others experience and know Jesus for themselves.
Understanding the cross means replacing our wants with what is right. We choose to love because God is love. We stare adversity and earthly condemnation about how we worship, and how we live in the face because Jesus dwells within us. We can stand firm because of Jesus.
Jesus said it best:
““If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet 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 keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father also. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’”
John 15:18-25 NKJV
This is also a great bunch of verses:
“For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness— by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
I Peter 2:20-25 NKJV
