Today’s New Covenant nugget is from Matthew 17:17
Jesus said, “You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you?”
Jesus loved people with all of His heart, but He was continually challenged by the instability of some people as well as their lack of faith. As a minister I can relate… many people want to serve the Lord on their own terms and filter clear and concise teachings of the Word, only applying the parts that do not require change on their part… they have faith only when circumstances suit them. Thank You Jesus for an increasingly growing number of believers who are sincere, teachable, and on fire for God!
Seeing people needlessly suffering, and continually dealing with people who shout “hosanna” one week and “crucify Him” the next has resulted in many believers, as well as many anointed, powerful ministers throwing in the towel.
The key to overcoming ‘people challenges’ is to keep your eyes on Jesus, His Word, His predictability, stability and trustworthiness. We need to walk in grace, love and patience toward all people and never forget… we all have had our ‘moments’ in the past where we did some really flaky things… again, thank You Jesus for grace!
Jesus does not lie, does not get offended, and does not change… praise the Lord! If we live out our relationship with the Lord through people. and focus on their flaws, we will become very frustrated.
Ministry, faith, as well as maintaining a victorious mindset can only be done if we keep the blinders on, and keep our focus on Jesus (the Author and finisher of our faith) and His Word. (For those of you who may be too young to know what blinders are… in the days of horses and carriages, they would cover the sides of the horses eyes with leather covers [blinders] so that the horses could only see the road in front of them, and not get distracted by things around them.)
Don’t get distracted by people’s flaws, flakiness, faithlessness or faults. Walk in compassion, love and grace toward people, and keep your focus on Jesus!
Faithless, fleshly, flawed, and even flaky people will remain a challenge; possibly even a thorn in your flesh, but thank the Lord, His grace is sufficient for you. By His grace, you will be supernaturally enabled to love the unlovely, to give grace to the undeserving, and to walk in compassion and patience toward those that are dominated by their flesh, defeated by deception, or just taking a long time to mature in the Lord.
FYI, another key to overcoming ‘people challenges’ is to keep a good sense of humor… that is why God sits in the heavenlies and laughs!
In His amazing love, Nick
