Following Jesus was never promised to be easy. In fact, Jesus warned us that the world would hate us because we belong to Him. And standing firm in our faith can mean being misunderstood, mocked, rejected, or even hated. That’s why following Jesus isn’t for the faint of heart. But when those moments come, Hebrews 12:3 tells us to “consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Think about what Jesus endured for us. He was mocked, ridiculed, spit upon, beaten, tortured, and ultimately nailed to a cross. He was innocent, yet He willingly endured the shame and suffering that should have been ours. Jesus could have called down angels to rescue Him, but He chose to stay. Why? Because He loved us. He endured it all so that we could have life.
So when following Jesus becomes difficult, remember who went before you. When you’re criticized for standing on God’s Word, remember Jesus. When you’re rejected because of your faith, remember Jesus. And when you feel weary from trying to live faithfully in a world that doesn’t understand, remember Jesus.
We don’t follow a Savior who asks us to endure something He was unwilling to endure Himself. He walked the road of suffering first, and He walks with us now.
So don’t lose heart. Keep your eyes on Jesus. Keep standing firm, and loving others, even when they don’t love you back. And remember that whatever this world may throw at us, it can never take away the eternal life Jesus purchased for us with His own precious blood.
