God’s delegated authority, the necessity of submission, the role of government in acting to protect and preserve the health of the people, the call for respect and honor—I find myself joyful, grateful. I am joyful to obey the mandates of my government as it tries to lead through a grueling, opaque situation. I’m grateful for God’s good gift of government, and grateful even for my government. Behind it, I see Him. In its authority, I see His. Of course, this government will lead imperfectly. They will make poor decisions. They will make mistakes. They will even act sinfully at times. They are, after all, human beings and subject to every kind of frailty, sin, and limitation. But God was not unaware of what was in the heart of men when he commanded through Peter “be subject for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme or to governors as sent by him” (1 Peter 2:13-14).
Tim Challies

What Will People Think

What Will People Think “WHAT WILL PEOPLE THINK?”

You know perfectly well that if you come out openly as a believer in Jesus Christ, that some people will criticize you, and you might be afraid of this.

This fear of what other people will think is a real road-block for many who are afraid either to receive Christ at all, or to quit being “secret believers” and “come out of the closet.” This fear demonstrates a warped sense of values. Q: Who is the Most Important Person in the universe? A: The One who created it, the One who is listening to

your every word and watching your every action; the One to whom you will someday give an account for your every deed, word, thought, attitude and motive. He is the One you should be most eager to please.

The Lord Jesus said to a bunch of public-relations -conscious people, “How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?” (John 5:44 NKJ)

Being honored by God is a much bigger matter than the petty recognitions or criticisms of materialistic worldlings.

Possibly, some of the very people whose criticisms you fear would actually respect and honor someone (such as yourself) willing to take a stand for Jesus Christ openly.

Read the Gospel of John for yourself, and notice Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea. They were two religious leaders who secretly sympathized with Jesus, but had a great deal to lose if they came out for Him openly.

Don’t worry about “what people will think.” Put your full trust in Jesus the Messiah of Israel, as your sin-bearing Savior and the Lord of your life. Confess Him openly as your Redeemer and King and loving Friend.

The angels of God will do handsprings for joy, and GOD will be mightily pleased with you.

We’d like to meet you and encourage you and try to answer your questions. We would be overjoyed to hear you confess your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Put your full trust in Him, RIGHT NOW. Come by and see us.