PRAISE & PRAYER PROMPT ••• I don’t like to make people feel uncomfortable. After all, I am a Southerner. We pride ourselves on being hospitable and making our guests feel welcome. We want others to be comfortable in our presence.
However, I’m also a Christian. And sometimes, the life of a Christian is a little (or a lot) uncomfortable. And we need to be okay with that. Because a little uncomfortable is what we have to do for our sake and the sake of others.
Jesus didn’t come here to make life comfortable. He shook things up. He rocked the status quo. He went toe-to-toe against comfort zones and challenged people. He invited everyone, including the outcasts to be in His presence, but He didn’t hesitate to make anyone uncomfortable with the truth of His words. It’s not like Jesus went around looking for uncomfortable confrontations—but He wasn’t afraid to face them either. His willingness to accept others didn’t mean acceptance of their sin.
When we think about Jesus and His willingness to let others be uncomfortable, let’s get to the heart of it: Jesus cares more about our eternal security than He does our temporary comfort. He cares so much that He was even willing to be hated… hated to the point of crucifixion.
Jesus is willing to convict us of sin and He’s willing to make us uncomfortable so we will look at things from His heavenly perspective. But the really cool thing about Jesus—even in His uncomfortable conversations, He enables His listeners to feel valued and loved.
In John 4:1-45, we meet the woman at the well—a woman so ostracized from society that she waited until the most uncomfortable part of the day to go get water. And then, one day, she had a conversation with Jesus. He confronted her sin and poor choices, but the way He did it left her hopeful. Optimistic to the point that she left everything behind and went back to town, telling everyone about Him.
So should we be willing to face the uncomfortable. We should love someone’s soul more than we care about having them like us. And we should love each other enough to point out issues that may be compromising our testimonies.
None of it is easy. An uncomfortable conversation may include talking to someone who doesn’t believe, but it also may be confronting a fellow Christian about how their behavior is reflecting their faith—just as Paul confronted Peter when he acted in a hypocritical manner (Galatians 2:11-14).
Let’s remember that there are souls on the line. We should feel overwhelmed with concern for their eternal welfare, just as Jesus is. This life isn’t about a popularity contest but it’s about preparing ourselves for the eternity that lies ahead.
Today, as you pray, thank Jesus for the loving example He gave. Thank Him that He’s willing to let us be comfortable in the short term in the hope that we will choose Him for the long term. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you be more concerned with people’s souls than you are your own popularity. But ask Him to guide your words and actions so that you simultaneously show the love of Christ in every uncomfortable situation.
