Hebrews 11:26
“Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.”
Moses learned the hard way that if you are going to serve Christ that you will not always be liked. He was reared in the palace of Egypt by the daughter of Pharaoh. He had every opportunity to forsake his Jewish lifestyle and embrace the lifestyle of Egypt, but he did not do that. He even thought one time that he could make everyone like him when he defended Israelite men from being beaten by an Egyptian master, but he quickly found out that even his own people were not really fond of him. It didn’t matter what Moses did, he learned that it was not him whom people did not like, but it was Who he represented that caused people not to like him. He came to a point in his life when he threw away his desire to be liked by the world and accepted the reproach of Jesus Christ.
Too many preachers are changing what they believe for the sake of being liked by the world. It amazes me how preachers forsake their standards so they can be liked, but they soon find out that it is not their standards that cause people not to like them, it is Who they represent that causes the world not to like them.
Churches have become more worldly in an attempt to be more liked by the world. We have seen churches bring rock music into their services so they can be liked. We have watched churches become casual in their attire so they can be liked by the world. We have observed churches adopt worldly activities and lifestyles for the opportunity of being liked by the world, but in every instance they world continues not to like the church. Why? Because the world doesn’t like Christ.
Christians continually change their beliefs and standards to be liked and accepted by the world, but they quickly find out the world does not like them. Christians have adopted worldly philosophies and language just so they can be accepted by the world, but they find out the world still does not like them even after they conform. If you look at what Christians do today to be liked and accepted by the world compared to those of yesteryear, you would find there have been drastic changes to no avail.
Let me make it clear that there is nothing you can do to ever get the world to accept you as a Christian. The world didn’t accept Christ when He was on this Earth, so why do you think they will accept Him and His philosophy while He is in Heaven? The world is at enmity with Christ, and there is nothing you can do to EVER be accepted by the world if you represent Christ.
God says in the verse above that you have a choice to make. You can accept the reproach of Christ as the greatest treasure you have, or you can attempt to be liked and accepted by the world to no avail. Always remember that the day you accepted Christ, you became the enemy of the world. You can fight the reproach of Christ or you can accept it. Your ability to reach the world for Jesus Christ will never be realized until you accept Christ’s reproach as the greatest of riches. Stop trying to be liked by the world! You can change until you look like the world, but the world will never like you for it does not like the Christ Who dwells in you. Always remember that it is all about Christ, and that it doesn’t matter how much you try to become like the world they will never accept you because you are His representative.