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We need to be resilient! Like a lot of parents, I teach my kids to be respectful and not to be offensive to people, at least as much as possible. I have to admit, though, that I sometimes wonder if I’m making a mistake. As a culture, are we teaching people to be offended instead of being resilient? This is an important question, because no matter who you are, if you have an opinion, you have an enemy. If you’re doing something noteworthy, you have a competitor or someone who disagrees with you. There are plenty of people who will lie and gossip about you if you take a strong stand or live by your convictions, and even more so if you’re doing things for the Kingdom of God. When you are engaged in the Lord’s service, you are an enemy of the kingdom of darkness, which is founded on deception, the devil’s number one tool to bring people down. As the enemy comes against you with his schemes, remember that if you’re doing good things for God, you’re going to be lied about, slandered and mistreated.

People are offensive and always will be; the only thing you can do is to be resilient. Don’t be the kind of person who hinges on praise or criticism, but listen to the voice of your Heavenly Father, who says you are loved just as you are!

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”

– Romans 5:3,4

-Pastor Bobby Schuler