They hated Jesus, they'll hate us

Our words, our actions, our response to things around us affects others, right or wrong, people have an awareness of God in us.​

The Bible tells us to expect two reactions others will have towards us, to some we will be an aroma of life to others, we will be the stench of death.

We can't choose how others perceive us, and we shouldn't live our lives to please them, we should live our lives to please God, by faith.

The world, the devil and our flesh try to overwhelm and overcome us daily, but take heart, stand strong for Christ lives in us, and He has overcome them all, and when we walk in obedience by faith, our impact is greater on those around us.

If we truly want to be used by God as a living gospel, then to some people we are going to stink, and others we will be a sweet aroma, just like Jesus Christ.

People came to Jesus seeking truth, healing, forgiveness, and salvation, to them He was life, others accused Him of crimes He did not commit, to them He was the aroma of death.

Jesus still today is either an aroma of life or the stench of death, and we as His followers are the same, He is despised by the worlds media, denied by the liberal left, used when needed by the right to support their causes, let's face it Jesus is hated by the world.

Jesus said if He was hated, we will be also.

None of us like rejection, but actually, they are rejecting Jesus, not us, we take that rejection personally, it is time we understand this and stop worrying about it.

Remember this rejection is unavoidable, people have rejected God from Cain to modern-day times.

Let us replace our fear with passion, a passion for Christ and others, pray for boldness, pray for wisdom, pray the Holy Spirit to lead us and speak through us, and help us overcome rejection.

Let our lives be an aroma of life to others, and maybe those who look at us as the stench of death will come to Christ as they see our faith is real.

God’s word says this:

“If the world hates you, understand that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you. Remember the word I spoke to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they don’t know the one who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now they have no excuse for their sin.” John‬ ‭15:18-22‬ ‭CSB‬‬

“Summoning the Twelve, he gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases. Then he sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. “Take nothing for the road,” he told them, “no staff, no traveling bag, no bread, no money; and don’t take an extra shirt. Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there. If they do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.” So they went out and traveled from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing everywhere.” Luke‬ ‭9:1-6‬ ‭CSB‬‬

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in Christ’s triumphal procession and through us spreads the aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For to God, we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To some we are an aroma of death leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life leading to life. Who is adequate for these things? For we do not market the word of God for profit like so many. On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭2:14-17 CSB

“I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.” Galatians‬ ‭2:20-21‬ ‭CSB‬‬