Read 1 Peter 4
If you saw someone wearing a big bull’s eye, what would you want to do? Let’s be honest, we would want to use them for target practice. If nothing else, we would line them up and mentally zing our fiery opinion at them: zing “Fool” zing “Sucker” zing “Idiot” … Even as Christians we have lots of darts. The world has more. The ones that are heard or impact the “target” have very long, extra sharp points. When they hit, they go in deep and really hurt.
When Jesus walked this earth, a lot of people thought He was wearing a big bull’s eye. They plotted and talked behind his back. Though He knew their thoughts and heard their words, He didn’t cower to their power or fit in with what they thought was acceptable. He paid the cost of being different and felt the pain. Not all of Jesus’ suffering occurred on the cross. He understands the heart pain of being misunderstood and rejected can be worse than physical pain of actual abuse. He knows firsthand how hard it is to live a life that pleases God and serves others. Jesus was willing to wear a bull’s eye, because He knew if we choose to follow Him, we would wear one too. The world will make sure of it.
It doesn’t make sense that people who genuinely love the Lord and the people around them, who are open, generous and don’t make a big deal about it, should be mistreated. But it happens! Whoever decides not to conform to this world – let what others think and what “everyone” is doing squish them into a mold of what we should do, how we should act or who we should be – will face being left out, made fun of, lied about, misunderstood, and the target of some pretty cruel looks and comments. Physically suffering for being a Christian doesn’t happen very often here in North America, but it is possible. There are places in this world where identifying with Christ is literally a death sentence. The reason we are used as target practice is since they don’t know Jesus, they don’t – they can’t – understand us. What they don’t understand they shoot at.
There is one sure way to prevent being a target. Don’t be different! Don’t act like Jesus. Go along with the world. They want us to suffer because “they think it is strange”– they think we are strange because we “do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation.” (v.4) The Bible dictionary defines this as “diving head first into a sewer of immoral and depraved self-indulgences.” We are invited to jump right in and take a swim. They will be happy to pull us under with them.
Our other choice is willingly wear a bull’s eye – “commit yourself to your faithful Creator and continue to do good.” (v.19) With this choice, we need to accept the fact that we will be recipients of some well-aimed darts, and it will hurt! It is a daily choice: bull’s eye or swimsuit?
Making It Personal
Have you been the recipient on any well-aimed darts because of your choice to follow Christ? How did you feel about being a target?
Why do you think they felt the need to say or do what they did?
When others use you for target practice, how does it help knowing Jesus experientially understands the pain?
How are you at increased risk of being a target when you set out to serve others and share the good news of Christ?
Why might someone consider wearing a bull’s eye as too high a price for following Christ?
Where have you observed others willingly bear the cost of being a Christ follower. How does this encourage you in your own willingness to wear a bull’s eye for the Lord?
