October, 2005 I read about a pastor who preached a message from Galatians 6:10 which says, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers” (NIV). Or as the King James Version says, “..to those who are of the household of faith”. The pastor said that after he had made the point that nobody or nothing can keep us from being what God wants us to be, at the close of the service someone came and gave him a writing from an unknown author which contains some great truth, and it challenges us to follow God and do His will…no matter what. Here is what was handed to the pastor: People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. LOVE THEM ANYWAY! If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. DO GOOD ANYWAY! If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies. SUCCEED ANYWAY! The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. DO GOOD ANYWAY! Honesty and openness make you vulnerable. BE HONEST AND OPEN ANYWAY! The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest people with the smallest minds. THINK BIG ANYWAY! People favor underdogs, but follow only top dogs. FIGHT FOR THE UNDERDOG ANYWAY! What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. BUILD ANYWAY! People really need help, but may attack you if you help them. HELP PEOPLE ANYWAY! Give the world the best you’ve got and you’ll get kicked in the teeth. GIVE THE WORLD THE BEST YOU'VE GOT ANYWAY!
The Bible did not promise us that following Christ and obeying God would necessarily be easy. In fact, Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.” (Luke 9:23-24) Jesus also said, “…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” (Matt. 20:26) No matter what goes on around us, let’s be determined to keep our attention focused on Jesus and make this our daily prayer: “Lord, I purpose today not to listen to my detractors or look to the left or to the right, but to keep serving you and walk obediently with you and stay on the clear, sure path YOU have set before me.” As we keep fulfilling OUR MISSION, which is, “…to demonstrate God’s love to all people, leading them to embrace Jesus Christ, and helping them grow to maturity in Him”, we will experience the joy of “doing good to all people”, and keep on building the Kingdom of God through Lakeside Community Church. I am deeply grateful for the privilege of working together with each of you to fulfill the mission God has given us. I look forward to seeing you on Sunday to worship the Lord together.
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