Changed Lives

Christ and His Message have always been polarizing. You have to do something with the message of Christ and that confrontation will split the crowd everytime.  Some want to come to Christ and thankfully through the cross, they can.  Some, however, are offended by the "only way" message of Christ and either leave the conversation divisive or, at least, defensive.  Notice how the crowd splits in Acts 13:49-52 - And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. ⁴⁹ And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region. ⁵⁰ But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. ⁵¹ But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. ⁵² And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. (www.lifejournal.cc) While the Gentiles were happy to hear the salvation message for the first time and responded wholeheartedly, the Jews did not like the challenge to their longstanding religion.  Notice how I Peter 2:6-8 states it- For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” ⁷ So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.”   Christ is to be the cornerstone of your life.  He is to be that pivotal base that everything else is built upon.  However, some don't want Christ to be what their lives are based on. They want to use Him as an additive or another suggestion from time to time, but that is not a real relationship.  That is not true salvation.  So, how do we respond?  Do we sensitive share our faith and the hope of salvation with only those that we guess will welcome the message and respond with affirmation?  No, we share the message, scattered the seed, spread the light, to all and let God work out the rest.  And if they get upset with us (and He is the rock of offense for them)......Notice Acts 13:51-52 again (as previously written).  As they did in v. 51, we shake the dust from our feet concerning those that are offended. And as in v.52, we celebrate with the changed.  
No more excuses.  Let's share Christ openly and let God open the doors in people's lives.  Lives will be changed....including ours!!