Live Like Christ, Even in the Face of Opposition

My whole life I have been a people-pleaser. I just wanted to get along with everyone and have everyone like me. I knew that I had good intentions and that my heart was in the right place (and so does God). Unfortunately, not everyone saw that. Of course it’s impossible to please everyone and to get everyone to like us (that is a topic for another blog), but struggling with opposition with the people around me increased after I became a Christian.

For example, some of my family thinks it’s cool that I’m a Christian, but, they don’t seem to think it’s cool that I am a full-time Christian. I hear a lot of, “I’m proud of you for your faith, BUT…” and “I’m glad that you have God in your life, BUT…” They don’t understand the work that God has called me to do. They don’t understand certain life decisions I have made for myself because of my faith. They don’t understand my steadfastness and commitment to live righteously. They don’t understand the love that God has poured out into me and the calling He has bestowed upon me to pour that love back into the people around me. They don’t understand my boldness. 

I’ve had the same struggles in my social life. My network of friends is small (but of very good quality, nonetheless) and I don’t get invited out a lot. Everyone parties without me, everyone has conversations about things that I can’t contribute to. Most of my peers don’t pay much mind to me since my focus and my priorities are vastly different than theirs. 

I have so desperately wanted all of these people to like me. I wanted them to understand me. I wanted them to relate to me. I wanted them to see my heart and what I have to offer. I wanted them to see the work that the Lord has done in my life. I spent so much energy trying to convince them that I was a good person and that my motives were pure. 

During the COVID-19 quarantine, God used that time to separate me from people who I have to see everyday. He wanted to get me in a quiet place and He spoke to me, “Your purpose for being on earth is not trying to get everyone to like you; your purpose is to share with people the message of Christ.” I am so thankful to Him for this revelation. 

Every Christian’s overall purpose is to carry out the work of Christ and do their part in the Body of Christ. Whether anyone likes us or not. Because when we gave our life to Christ, we committed to die to our flesh, which means that life is no longer about us, but about Him. God has been using this time to embolden me, which requires me to lay down my desire to please everyone. If I spend too much time and energy worshipping what everyone else thinks of me, then that would be time and energy I would be wasting that I could be using to dedicate to my true purpose. 

What would have happened if Jesus did what I did? Jesus endured more slanders, accusations, opposition, persecution, and cruelty than what any of us would ever face. His message was offensive to the Jews and unbelievable to the Gentiles. He didn’t waste all His time trying to convince the ones that refused to believe that He was God. He didn’t spend time beating Himself up when no one believed who He was and what He came to do. He just let His love and His light shine. And the ones with soft hearts and recipient to His message saw God in Him. 

So let your love and your light shine. Delight yourself in the Lord and the purpose He has bestowed upon you. Don’t waste another second of your time or another ounce of your spirit trying to prove yourself to others. The right people that God has ordained to be in your life will see your worth and your value and the Christ that lives inside you. Just focus on your purpose as a child of God and make Christ known to the world through the life you live, even if the people around you don’t understand it.

“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”– Galatians 1:10 (NIV)