One day, people sought Jesus with the intention of making Him king. Instead of accepting it, He withdrew and, at a point, delivered a very hard message that many could not accept. That single message shook their expectations and exposed their true motives. By the end of that moment, He had lost more than 80% of His followers, showing that not everyone who follows is truly committed.
After that, He turned to His disciples and asked a very direct question: “Will you also go away?” Their response was powerful and revealing: “To whom shall we go? You alone have the words of eternal life.” They stayed with Jesus because they understood something deeper. They were not just following a man—they were following truth, and they knew they could not find it elsewhere.
On another occasion, Jesus rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan.” That was a strong and direct correction, yet Peter was not offended and did not walk away. A disciple who truly understands why he is following Jesus will not allow words—whether pleasant or harsh—to drive him away. Conviction keeps him grounded, not emotions.
If we are honest, many people in today’s generation would have accused Jesus of being too harsh or insensitive. Some would have said He was rude or disrespectful. Others would have taken offense immediately and left. In fact, many would have concluded that such a place is not where they belong, simply because they were corrected or confronted.
Here is the bitter truth: people who truly know why they are in church, and understand the reason for serving God, do not leave because of offense. Their focus is not on people—it is on God. They are not easily shaken by what others say or do because their commitment goes beyond human interactions.
Some may say, “I will go and serve God in another church.” But think about it—was it God who offended you in the place you left? If your service is truly unto God, then your consistency should not depend on how people treat you. You will remain focused because you understand that it is God who rewards, not men.
Interestingly, we all work in offices where colleagues insult, gossip, criticize, and sometimes treat us unfairly. Yet, we rarely consider leaving our jobs because of that. We endure, adjust, and continue working. But when it comes to church, many are quick to walk away at the slightest offense. That contrast says a lot about priorities and understanding.
My brother, my sister—if you leave the church because of offense, you are not yet functioning as a disciple; you are operating like part of the multitude. And Jesus Himself showed that He would rather keep a few committed disciples than a large crowd with no real conviction or value for the kingdom.
The truth is, it is better to work with two willing and committed people than with a multitude that drags its feet. Jesus understood this clearly. That is why He asked His disciples if they also wanted to leave—He was testing their conviction, not begging for their presence.
May God grant us wisdom to understand why we follow Him, and the strength to remain grounded regardless of what comes our way.
No comments:
Post a Comment