By Doug Creamer
Following Jesus Costs
Have you ever been mistreated by someone? If you have been alive for any length of time, you have probably been mistreated by someone. It could be a sibling, a friend, a co-worker, a supervisor, an employee at a business… and the list goes on. There are so many opportunities to be mistreated and we are all mistreated at times.
Sometimes the mistreatment comes from the person having a bad day. Something happened that put them in a bad way and that individual turns around and takes it out on you. You happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Depending on the severity of the mistreatment, most of us can understand and forgive the one who mistreated us.
Other times the mistreatment is perpetrated by a bully. The bully mistreats everyone in his or her path. You were just the next victim. This type of mistreatment can often create lifelong memories. Most of us have probably been the victim of a bully and we would rather not remember it. I can name a few from my childhood.
I remember once playing with some friends in this girl’s yard. Her father had a reputation for being pretty tough. A bully came around on his bike and started to harass me. The father heard it and came out and confronted the boy. He made the boy get on his knees and apologize to me. The bully was crying but he apologized. The father told the boy to never show his face in our area again and he never did.
We have all been mistreated many times in life and that is simply a part of living in a fallen world. A couple of years ago, I was at a business and found myself being mistreated by an employee. I spoke to the manager at a later time about the incident and she obviously talked to the employee. The employee continued to mistreat me when I frequented the business, so I decided to stop being a customer.
The other evening the Lord asked me to pray for this employee. I told Him I would prefer to not pray for the employee. God asked what I wanted Him to do with the employee. I told Him I didn’t care. Then He asked if I wanted this employee to be sent to hell. I quickly responded, absolutely not! I don’t want ANYONE to be sent to hell. Then God reminded me that disrespectful employees need prayer and that I might be the only one praying for this person. It was hard, but I prayed for the employee, and have continued to do so.
I taught Sunday school last week and my lesson included Matthew 5:43 – 48 where Jesus was teaching His disciples to pray for those who persecute you. He wanted to make sure that I could apply the lesson before I taught the lesson. I admitted to my Sunday school class that it was difficult because the Lord brought others to mind that had mistreated me through the years who needed prayer, too.
Following Jesus is not easy. The Bible is full of people who did hard things for God. Noah spent about 100 years building an ark. Moses led over a million people from slavery to freedom. Think about Queen Esther, who risked her life to go to the king when it was strictly forbidden. Ananias was sent to pray for Saul, who had put many Christians in prison. Imagine being Mary, who agreed to be the mother of Jesus and yet was accused of pre-marital sex. She could have been stoned for it. Joseph’s life was no picnic either, being given the charge of raising God’s son. The Bible is full of people who paid a high price to follow and obey God.
I want to encourage you to make the tough choices that keep you on God’s path. He never said it would be easy. Following God involves difficult choices. Following God involves being obedient. Following God involves faith and trust. Following God will cost you, BUT the rewards are worth it. He promises to never leave you. He promises to provide for your needs. He promises to forgive your sins. He promises to love and accept you. Best of all, He promises you a special place with Him for all eternity. God will ask you to do some challenging things, but He promises to help you through whatever you have to endure for making the right choice. God’s path is not easy but it is the best and most rewarding path you will ever choose.
Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com
