Harvest Daily Devotion for 4/9/2008: "His Representative"

Wednesday, April 9, 2008 His Representative " 'If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. . . .' " — John 15:20 It is hard for a lot of Christians to understand how their friends and family can suddenly turn against them. People they have been close to for years suddenly become hostile, simply because they have said they were now following Jesus Christ. I am amazed at how parents have turned against children. I've heard teens and young adults tell me how they were strung out on drugs, or living sexually permissive lives, or getting in trouble with the law all the time. Then they found Christ and their lives changed. They began living moral lives. Their parents were angry with them for coming to faith when, in fact, they should have been elated by the change. Sometimes, even parents won't understand what the Lord is doing in your life. Sometimes, your children won't understand. Sometimes, your husband or wife won't understand. Sometimes, your friends and coworkers won't understand. Remember when Saul, later to become the apostle Paul, was striking out against Christians? One day on the Damascus Road, he met none other than Jesus Christ himself who said, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" (Acts 9:4). Saul thought his fight was with the Christians. But it wasn't. It was with Christ himself. People take their hostilities out on you because you are God's representative. I have spoken with people who discover I'm a pastor and suddenly begin dumping everything they have against God on me. I have come to realize this happens because I am a representative of God, just as all believers are. It is a great honor to be His representative. But with that honor comes responsibility. Be careful. Don't keep someone away from Christ by misrepresenting Him. Have Pastor Greg's devotions blessed you? Write and tell him! Greg@harvest.org Want to read more from Greg Laurie? Be sure to check out his weekly columns at World Net Daily. Click here to read his latest article. Copyright ©2008 by Harvest Ministries. All Rights Reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000 Listen to Today's Radio Program! Read the Word: Today--Acts 4 How to Know God Devotion Archives Live Services Pastor Greg's Blog Greg's Personal Site If you no longer want to receive this mailing, or you wish to subscribe/unsubscribe from other Harvest Ministries mailings, please visit our e-mail subscription management page.