You can try and be the sweetest, nicest person in the world but if you are truly born-again and a light for Jesus, you will offend others by the sheer light in you that invades their darkness. You don't have to do anything. You don't have to say anything. Just the fact that you are light is all that is needed to make others hate you!
John 3:19-20
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Matthew Henry's commentary for this scripture really speaks! You will find people will not want you around because just you being there makes them feel bad!
The true reason why men love darkness rather than light is because their deeds are evil. They love darkness because they think it is an excuse for their evil deeds, and they hate the light because it robs them of the good opinion they had of themselves, by showing them their sinfulness and misery. Their case is sad, and, because they are resolved that they will not mend it, they are resolved that they will not see it.
I've found that you can never be right in some people's eyes, you will never be good enough or say things correctly and even the lack of you saying things will be wrong as well. See, when you have the light, it is unbearable to those that choose to live in darkness. Only when you step over to the darkness will you be accepted too. So quit trying to appease everyone! You are going to be hated. You are going to despised. You are going to have enemies. You are going to suffer wrong. You are going to be talked about. You are going to be falsely accused. Just stand and endure for Christ!
Quit casting your precious pearls before swine to trample on - that's the message God has for us today. A lot of times God tries to protect us from hurtful people or situations, yet we constantly run after them seeking their love and approval because we are so needy. In some situations, we should have had their love and approval, but we are in sad world of sin and robbed of that. Quit running after them. Quit chasing their approval. Quit trying to make them love you! Accept that you have done all you could, even more than you should have - and let go.
When you get to that place in your life when you truly let go, you will find your healing! Your recovery will begin and you will be a much better person emotionally. Jesus told us this would happen, even with those we love and think should never happen with:
Matthew 10:22; 34-36
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.; ... Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
Christ's light divides from the darkness - you can't mix the two! Those in darkness will not be able to even stand to be around you, you are making them feel bad - go away they may say!! If you can comfortably walk with those in darkness, then you may need to question if you really have the light.
2 Corinthians 6:14
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
Don't be surprised when your light offends, it comes with the territory! Strive and do your best to keep peace with all men with all that lieth in you, right? But, realize that you are blinding to those in darkness and you make them feel uncomfortable just by your very presence. It isn't you - it's Christ they are rejecting and we are called to endure to the end.
