I began a new message series last Sunday titled, "Meet the Savior Who Was A Servant." This series will take us through the Gospel of Mark. You can click here for the transcript of the sermon I preached last Sunday from Mark 1:1-8.
I am still working on this Sunday's sermon from Mark 2:1-28. In my studies, I found it interesting that Jesus is constantly criticized for His ministry. He forgives a man of his sin, and He is criticized. He fellowships with sinners at Matthew Levi's home, and He is criticized. He does not demand that His disciples fast, and He is criticized. His disciples pluck and eat grain on the Sabbath, and He is criticized. It seems that no matter what He did, there were always people around to complain. What is worse, the most vocal critics of the Lord were the religious leaders! These are people who should have known better. It is no different in our day. Christians can be some of the most cantankerous and critical people in the world. It seems that no matter what a pastor may try to do in following God's will for the church, there will always be someone to complain. And make no mistake about it, criticism is not always a harmless pastime. Sometimes we need constructive criticism because even pastors have biases and blind-spots. But much of the criticism pastors deal with is just sour grapes because someone did not get their way. The constant drumbeat of complaints has caused many churches to split, and has led many pastors to lose heart and quit.
So it is comforting to realize that even the Lord Jesus Christ had His share of critics, yet He never gave up on doing the Father's will. If we are going to be faithful to Him we must do no less. We must keep our eyes on God and do His will no matter what others may say.
"In the Final Analysis," by Mother Teresa
People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered...
forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives...
be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies...
succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you...
be honest and frank anyway.
What you may spend years building, someone may destroy overnight...
build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, people may be jealous...
be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow...
do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough...
give the world the best you have anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it's all between you and God...
it was never between you and them anyway.
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