Being Called Names?

Bible Reading Luke 7:18-35
Focus Verse: Luke 7:33-34 “For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘he has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.”

A few weeks ago I had a counseling serving with a lady who felt she needed to quit her church because she felt in her heart that another lady in the church was out to criticize her in most of the things she said or does. She explained that she has grown cold feet in serving God using her gifts and resources since someone was out to discredit her in all she did. God led me into helping her understand that the gospel has suffered opposition from the time of Jesus and the Apostles, and until today. The devil is a liar who uses liars to further his work and discourage Christians from serving God. You must never quit serving God because people are turning your good intentions for their ill motives and are calling you names. Satan will always find a false reason to discourage you from serving God. He knew that John was a messenger from God who had come to prepare the way for The Son of God. He had to find false accusation and false names against him. He tried to oppose peoples’ attention towards Jesus by calling him names. In fact, Jesus did not quit serving the needs of the people because of being called names. He did it more and more till His earthly mission was accomplished.
John 15:18 – If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Romans 8:31-32: What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? You are not the only Christian facing opposition, many have gone through what you are presently passing, 1 Cor. 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Pastor Eliazar Wambo
Makira Baptist Church - Mfangano

Additional reading: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:34-35

"And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10: 24-25