We need to be ready to handle naysayers.

If you are to follow in Jesus foot steps you will be ridiculed , hated, accused of being crazy, lied about, and persecuted in many ways. Often times these things were done by Jesus own people and family. The bible tells us the student is no better then the teacher. We should not answer the naysayers the bible says if they reject the truth then to shake the dust from our feet and move on.

(Matthew 10:13-15) . . .. ¹⁴ Wherever anyone does not receive you or listen to your words, on going out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet. ¹⁵ Truly I say to you, it will be more endurable for the land of Sodʹom and Go·morʹrah on Judgment Day than for that city.

Our putting God’s things first may seem harsh to others because we may may choose spiritual well being over other things. They may even think we do not know how to be happy because they have forgotten how to enjoy the simple things in life. Take away all the things they own and what will they have if they do not have God or Jesus on their side? We know many would appear to have faith but few will make it. We need to continue going through the narrow gate.

Often times as we change people will try to get us to look back. We become a new person and need to stay focused and look forward and not back at the person we used to be. That person no longer exist to God. Once we have repented and changed we are a new person to God. We have to keep in mind all this will be gone soon and all the things in this system will be gone but the treasures we store up in heaven will last forever.

Many times in the past they had ridiculed and even made fun of God’s people. They even falsely believed nothing would change and that God would not do anything and things would continue as always. Just as in Noah’s day they would take no note until it was too late. Following Jesus will not be easy because as we grow spiritually many we were close to well start hating the new person we are becoming. This is why Jesus said members of a persons own household would become their enemies. Some will only take in baby food and be so caught up in the world they never grow spiritually. The bible even warns us about associating with those how do not grow spiritually because this could effect us. We have obligation to family we must fulfill but we also must do our best to protect ourselves spiritually because as we change if they do not continue to put on the new personality daily we will grow apart from them because they will not understand us and our reasons for our faith. These ones are more physical and put their faith in the physical things of the world. We need to be careful we do not put our faith in physical things first. We should always do our best to put spiritual things first. If we do not we could lose what progress we have made and end up like others and have to take in spiritual milk instead of mature spiritual food.

We should never be ashamed of our faith or be afraid when made fun of or persecuted. We do not have to worry what to say the bible says Jesus will send the helper the holey spirit to help us when we are being tried to recall to mind the things we have learned. So we should never reply to a matter before hand but be patient God will helps us.

Whether it be family, friends or a stranger a stranger if they do not take it personal. If they refuse the truth pray for them and leave it to God. If they persecute you or shame you shake the dust off your feet and let it at that and hope some day you set and good enough example of faith it that will give a good enough witness that their eyes may be opened.

As we learn and apply God’s word we become a new person daily so some may be disappointed in our changes especially when it comes to our putty spiritual things first. To them this is not rational. As they focus on the things seen we focus on the things unseen. So they cannot see the things unseen because their spiritual eye has not been trained so our behavior is confusing to them.

I know this can be very difficult because many we love deeply will not respond to the truth but will put more faith in the physical things. Faith is one of the fruits of the spirit if someone is not excepting the truth are showing by their behavior they are just going through the motion we should be cautious so our faith is not affected. We have to continue to let love guide all we do but deal with people who show a lack of faith cautiously will feeding those who do take an interest more spiritual food. No one wants to lose family and friends but if we truly love God he has to be first in our lives. Without him there is not hope. It is from him that life comes and he is the one who can bring true happiness. No human can promise true happiness and eternal life. We need to continue to love those who hate us and pray for their eyes to be open.

We have to stay steadfast because and do our best to remain blameless because we do not want to give anyone a reason to accuse us. The more blameless we are the more their short comings stand out, in order to justify the things they do they will try to smear those who put their faith in God and try and make it look as if we are no different. Because we are more difficult to manipulate and fool they may even get upset with us because we do not easily give into their will because we know what God requires and do our best to do his will.

Because we do not put our faith in human things like wars, people, money or many other things of the world they view us as week or defenseless but no one is wiser or more powerful then God so they are very very mistaken.

(Romans 1:16, 17) ¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the good news; it is, in fact, God’s power for salvation to everyone having faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. ¹⁷ For in it God’s righteousness is being revealed by faith and for faith, just as it is written: “But the righteous one will live by reason of faith. . .

(1 Peter 4:12-14) ¹² Beloved ones, do not be surprised about the fiery trials that you are experiencing, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ On the contrary, go on rejoicing over the extent to which you are sharers in the sufferings of the Christ, so that you may rejoice and be overjoyed also during the revelation of his glory. ¹⁴ If you are being reproached for the name of Christ, you are happy, because the spirit of glory, yes, the spirit of God, is resting upon you.

New personality

(Colossians 3:10, 11) and clothe yourselves with the new personality, which through accurate knowledge is being made new according to the image of the One who created it, ¹¹ where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, foreigner, Scythʹi·an, slave, or freeman; but Christ is all things and in all.

(Ephesians 4:22-24) . . .. ²³ And you should continue to be made new in your dominant mental attitude, ²⁴ and should put on the new personality that was created according to God’s will in true righteousness and loyalty.

We cannot look back.

(Luke 9:62) ⁶² Jesus said to him: “No man who has put his hand to a plow and looks at the things behind is well-suited for the Kingdom of God. . .

(1 Corinthians 9:24) ²⁴ Do you not know that the runners in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it.

(Mark 10:28-31) . . .” ²⁹ Jesus said: “Truly I say to you, no one has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the good news ³⁰ who will not get 100 times more now in this period of time—houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and fields, with persecutions—and in the coming system of things, everlasting life. ³¹ But many who are first will be last, and the last first.. . .

How the world will treat those who choose to put faith in God and Jesus.

(Matthew 5:11, 12) ¹¹ “Happy are you when people reproach you and persecute you and lyingly say every sort of wicked thing against you for my sake. ¹² Rejoice and be overjoyed, since your reward is great in the heavens, for in that way they persecuted the prophets prior to you. . .

Store up treasures in Heaven

(Matthew 6:20, 21) ²⁰ Rather, store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Accused of being out of their minds

(Acts 26:24) ²⁴ Now as Paul was saying these things in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice: “You are going out of your mind, Paul! Great learning is driving you out of your mind!”

(Mark 3:21, 22) ²¹ But when his relatives heard about it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying: “He has gone out of his mind.” ²² Also, the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying: “He has Be·elʹze·bub, and he expels the demons by means of the ruler of the demons.”

We lose family friends and maybe even material things.

(Philippians 3:6-9) . . .. ⁷ Yet, the things that were gains to me, I have considered loss on account of the Christ. ⁸ What is more, I do indeed also consider all things to be loss on account of the excelling value of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have taken the loss of all things and I consider them as a lot of refuse, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in union with him, not because of my own righteousness from following the Law, but because of the righteousness that is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith.

(Luke 21:16-19) ¹⁶ Moreover, you will be handed over even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, ¹⁷ and you will be hated by all people because of my name. ¹⁸ But not even a hair of your heads will perish. ¹⁹ By your endurance you will preserve your lives.

Yes means yes, many will get upset that we cannot be easily manipulated or accused.

(Matthew 5:36, 37) . . .. ³⁷ Just let your word ‘Yes’ mean yes, your ‘No,’ no, for what goes beyond these is from the wicked one.

(2 Timothy 3:15-17) . . .have known the holy writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work.

(John 8:31, 32) ³¹ Then Jesus went on to say to the Jews who had believed him: “If you remain in my word, you are really my disciples, ³² and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.. . .

We are freed from all the hatred and many other bad things that go on in the world.

(James 1:24, 25) . . .. ²⁵ But the one who peers into the perfect law that belongs to freedom and continues in it has become, not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work; and he will be happy in what he does. . .

(Matthew 7:22, 23) Many will say to me in that day: ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’ ²³ And then I will declare to them: ‘I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness

(Hebrews 11:13) ¹³ In faith all of these died, although they did not receive the fulfillment of the promises; but they saw them from a distance and welcomed them and publicly declared that they were strangers and temporary residents in the land.

(Romans 14:22, 23) ²² The faith that you have, keep it to yourself before God. Happy is the man who does not judge himself by what he approves. ²³ But if he has doubts, he is already condemned if he eats, because he does not eat based on faith. Indeed, everything that is not based on faith is sin.

We have to try and tell people the things we have learned if we do not how could they learn to have the faith we have?

(John 4:39-42) ³⁹ Many of the Sa·marʹi·tans from that city put faith in him because of the word of the woman who bore witness, saying: “He told me all the things I did.” ⁴⁰ So when the Sa·marʹi·tans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. ⁴¹ As a result, many more believed because of what he said, ⁴² and they said to the woman: “We no longer believe just because of what you said; for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the savior of the world.”

We cannot give up because all these things are temporary. So there is no good reason to love the world and the things in them when they will be done away with soon.

(2 Corinthians 4:16-18) ¹⁶ Therefore, we do not give up, but even if the man we are outside is wasting away, certainly the man we are inside is being renewed from day to day. ¹⁷ For though the tribulation is momentary and light, it works out for us a glory that is of more and more surpassing greatness and is everlasting; ¹⁸ while we keep our eyes, not on the things seen, but on the things unseen. For the things seen are temporary, but the things unseen are everlasting.

(1 Corinthians 2:6-10) ⁶ Now we speak wisdom among those who are mature, but not the wisdom of this system of things nor that of the rulers of this system of things, who are to come to nothing. ⁷ But we speak God’s wisdom in a sacred secret, the hidden wisdom, which God foreordained before the systems of things for our glory. ⁸ It is this wisdom that none of the rulers of this system of things came to know, for if they had known it, they would not have executed the glorious Lord. ⁹ But just as it is written: “Eye has not seen and ear has not heard, nor have there been conceived in the heart of man the things that God has prepared for those who love him.” ¹⁰ For it is to us God has revealed them through his spirit, for the spirit searches into all things, even the deep things of God.

(1 John 2:15-17) ¹⁵ Do not love either the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him; ¹⁶ because everything in the world—the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the showy display of one’s means of life—does not originate with the Father, but originates with the world. ¹⁷ Furthermore, the world is passing away and so is its desire, but the one who does the will of God remains forever.

Getting caught up in worldly things can destroy our faith and relationship with God.

(Proverbs 11:28) ²⁸ The one trusting in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like the foliage.

(1 Timothy 6:9, 10) ⁹ But those who are determined to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge men into destruction and ruin. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all sorts of injurious things, and by reaching out for this love some have been led astray from the faith and have stabbed themselves all over with many pains.

(1 Corinthians 3:1-3) 3 So, brothers, I was not able to speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to fleshly men, as to infants in Christ. ² I fed you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet strong enough. In fact, neither are you strong enough now, ³ for you are still fleshly. Since there are jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly and are you not walking as men do?

(Hebrews 5:11-14) ¹¹ We have much to say about him, and it is difficult to explain, because you have become dull in your hearing. ¹² For although by now you should be teachers, you again need someone to teach you from the beginning the elementary things of the sacred pronouncements of God, and you have gone back to needing milk, not solid food. ¹³ For everyone who continues to feed on milk is unacquainted with the word of righteousness, for he is a young child. ¹⁴ But solid food belongs to mature people, to those who through use have their powers of discernment trained to distinguish both right and wrong.

(Ephesians 4:14, 15) ¹⁴ So we should no longer be children, tossed about as by waves and carried here and there by every wind of teaching by means of the trickery of men, by means of cunning in deceptive schemes. ¹⁵ But speaking the truth, let us by love grow up in all things into him who is the head, Christ.

(Luke 21:13-15) . . .. ¹⁴ Therefore, resolve in your hearts not to rehearse beforehand how to make your defense, ¹⁵ for I will give you words and wisdom that all your opposers together will not be able to resist or dispute. . .

(Psalm 69:7, 8)  ⁷ I suffer reproach on your account; Humiliation covers my face.  ⁸ I have become a stranger to my brothers, A foreigner to the sons of my mother.

Jesus own brother lacked Faith

(John 7:3-5) . . .. ⁴ For no one does anything in secret when he seeks to be known publicly. If you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” ⁵ His brothers were, in fact, not exercising faith in him. . .

(John 14:26, 27) . . .send in my name, that one will teach you all things and bring back to your minds all the things I told you. ²⁷ I leave you peace; I give you my peace. I do not give it to you the way that the world gives it. Do not let your hearts be troubled nor let them shrink out of fear.

We are in the last days we do not have much longer. We just need to remain faithful to the end. We know that many will ignore the signs until it is too late.

(2 Timothy 3:1-4) 3 But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. ² For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, ³ having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, ⁴ betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with pride, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God,

(2 Peter 3:2-7) . . .. ³ First of all know this, that in the last days ridiculers will come with their ridicule, proceeding according to their own desires ⁴ and saying: “Where is this promised presence of his? Why, from the day our forefathers fell asleep in death, all things are continuing exactly as they were from creation’s beginning.” ⁵ For they deliberately ignore this fact, that long ago there were heavens and an earth standing firmly out of water and in the midst of water by the word of God; ⁶ and that by those means the world of that time suffered destruction when it was flooded with water. ⁷ But by the same word the heavens and the earth that now exist are reserved for fire and are being kept until the day of judgment and of destruction of the ungodly people. . .

(Matthew 24:36-42) ³⁶ “Concerning that day and hour nobody knows, neither the angels of the heavens nor the Son, but only the Father. ³⁷ For just as the days of Noah were, so the presence of the Son of man will be. ³⁸ For as they were in those days before the Flood, eating and drinking, men marrying and women being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, ³⁹ and they took no note until the Flood came and swept them all away, so the presence of the Son of man will be. ⁴⁰ Then two men will be in the field; one will be taken along and the other abandoned. ⁴¹ Two women will be grinding at the hand mill; one will be taken along and the other abandoned. ⁴² Keep on the watch, therefore, because you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. . .

(Luke 21:34-36) ³⁴ “But pay attention to yourselves that your hearts never become weighed down with overeating and heavy drinking and anxieties of life, and suddenly that day be instantly upon you ³⁵ as a snare. For it will come upon all those dwelling on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ Keep awake, then, all the time making supplication that you may succeed in escaping all these things that must occur and in standing before the Son of man.. . .

Many will be blinded to the truth because they choose to disobey God and put their faith in the world and worldly things. They will not put up with healthy teaching but will gather teachers who will scratch their ears and make them feel good instead of telling them what they need to hear.

(2 Thessalonians 2:9-11) ⁹ But the lawless one’s presence is by the operation of Satan with every powerful work and lying signs and wonders ¹⁰ and every unrighteous deception for those who are perishing, as a retribution because they did not accept the love of the truth in order that they might be saved. ¹¹ That is why God lets a deluding influence mislead them so that they may come to believe the lie,

(2 Timothy 4:3, 4) For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the wholesome teaching, but according to their own desires, they will surround themselves with teachers to have their ears tickled. ⁴ They will turn away from listening to the truth and give attention to false stories.

(2 Thessalonians 2:9-11) ⁹ But the lawless one’s presence is by the operation of Satan with every powerful work and lying signs and wonders ¹⁰ and every unrighteous deception for those who are perishing, as a retribution because they did not accept the love of the truth in order that they might be saved. ¹¹ That is why God lets a deluding influence mislead them so that they may come to believe the lie,

(2 Timothy 4:3, 4) For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the wholesome teaching, but according to their own desires, they will surround themselves with teachers to have their ears tickled. ⁴ They will turn away from listening to the truth and give attention to false stories.

(Matthew 27:41-43) ⁴¹ In the same way also, the chief priests with the scribes and the elders began mocking him, saying: ⁴² “Others he saved; himself he cannot save! He is King of Israel; let him now come down off the torture stake, and we will believe in him. ⁴³ He has put his trust in God; let Him now rescue him if He wants him, for he said, ‘I am God’s Son. . .

(1 Corinthians 1:22-25) ²² For the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks look for wisdom; ²³ but we preach Christ executed on the stake, to the Jews a cause for stumbling but to the nations foolishness. ²⁴ However, to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ Because a foolish thing of God is wiser than men, and a weak thing of God is stronger than men. . .

(1 Timothy 4:1, 2) 4 However, the inspired word clearly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to misleading inspired statements and teachings of demons, ² by means of the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, whose conscience is seared as with a branding iron. . .

(2 Chronicles 30:10-12) ¹⁰ So the couriers went from city to city throughout the land of Eʹphra·im and Ma·nasʹseh, even to Zebʹu·lun, but the people were making fun of them and mocking them. ¹¹ However, some individuals from Ashʹer, Ma·nasʹseh, and Zebʹu·lun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. ¹² The hand of the true God was also in Judah to unite them to carry out what the king and the princes had commanded by the word of Jehovah.

(John 15:17-21) ¹⁷ “These things I command you, that you love one another. ¹⁸ If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were part of the world, the world would be fond of what is its own. Now because you are no part of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, for this reason the world hates you. ²⁰ Keep in mind the word I said to you: A slave is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have observed my word, they will also observe yours. ²¹ But they will do all these things against you on account of my name, because they do not know the One who sent me.

This corrupt world has nothing to offer us so we need to seek heavenly things first.

(1 John 5:18, 19) . . .. ¹⁹ We know that we originate with God, but the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one. . .

(Matthew 6:33, 34) ³³ “Keep on, then, seeking first the Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you. ³⁴ So never be anxious about the next day, for the next day will have its own anxieties. Each day has enough of its own troubles.

(Hebrews 13:5) ⁵ Let your way of life be free of the love of money, while you are content with the present things. For he has said: “I will never leave you, and I will never abandon you.. . .

(Matthew 6:19-21) ¹⁹ “Stop storing up for yourselves treasures on the earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ Rather, store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

(James 5:1-3) 5 Come, now, you rich men, weep and wail over the miseries that are coming upon you. ² Your riches have rotted, and your clothing has become moth-eaten. ³ Your gold and silver have rusted away, and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh. What you have stored up will be like a fire in the last days.

Why many will not understand and will be blind to what is occuring.

(1 Corinthians 2:14-16) ¹⁴ But a physical man does not accept the things of the spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot get to know them, because they are examined spiritually. ¹⁵ However, the spiritual man examines all things, but he himself is not examined by any man. ¹⁶ For “who has come to know the mind of Jehovah, so that he may instruct him?” But we do have the mind of Christ. . .

(Matthew 10:14, 15) ¹⁴ Wherever anyone does not receive you or listen to your words, on going out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet. ¹⁵ Truly I say to you, it will be more endurable for the land of Sodʹom and Go·morʹrah on Judgment Day than for that city.

(Acts 18:5, 6) When, now, both Silas and Timothy came down from Mac·e·doʹni·a, Paul began to be intensely occupied with the word, witnessing to the Jews to prove that Jesus is the Christ. ⁶ But after they kept on opposing him and speaking abusively, he shook out his garments and said to them: “Let your blood be on your own heads. I am clean. From now on I will go to people of the nations.

(Ezekiel 12:1, 2) . . .: ² “Son of man, you are living in a rebellious house. They have eyes to see, but they do not see, and ears to hear, but they do not hear, for they are a rebellious house. . .

what God has to offer because what man has to offer will be gone soon but God’s promises are forever.

(Revelation 21:1-4) 21 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the former heaven and the former earth had passed away, and the sea is no more. ² I also saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God and prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³ With that I heard a loud voice from the throne say: “Look! The tent of God is with mankind, and he will reside with them, and they will be his people. And God himself will be with them. ⁴ And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.”

(Isaiah 11:4) ⁴ He will judge the lowly with fairness, And with uprightness he will give reproof in behalf of the meek ones of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth And put the wicked to death with the breath of his lips.

(Isaiah 65:17) ¹⁷ For look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be called to mind, Nor will they come up into the heart.

(2 Peter 3:13) ¹³ But there are new heavens and a new earth that we are awaiting according to his promise, and in these righteousness is to dwell. . .