God's judgment of those set against you is far more effective than your own. Men are vicious in their judgment of one another …they forget that all are created in the image of God. The world is especially filled with vitriol toward Jesus and His followers. They view us as offscouring, not worthy of this world. But ironically, God views faithful believers as people of whom the world is not worthy (Heb 11.38). Remember that you are the apple of God's eye. Zechariah wrote, "For he who touches you touches the apple of His eye" (Zech 2.8). Jesus said, "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea" (Matt 18.6). Remember that we will see our joy; they will be ashamed (see Isa 66.5). Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. (Matthew 16:24–25) |