17/05/2020
The Unappreciated:
There comes a time in everyone’s life where all their efforts seem to be failing…
There comes a time when nothing seems to work out despite our valiant efforts…
There comes a time when disaster strikes those closest to us that do well, while the wicked live on and prosper…
There comes a time when leaders will abuse their authority, slander & lie, promote mediocrity, and allow certain individuals who “fall in line” to break the rules while they discipline those who do what is right with the most rigid and harsh results as if to say “Look what doing right will cost you”…
There comes a time when, we work our entire life only to be struck down by illness right as we near retirement…
There comes a time, when we begin to walk with God, and many of our relationships fall apart and they view us as hateful and prejudiced despite all of the love we have for them…
There comes a time when our efforts & accomplishments are stolen by others and they even receive recognition for their theft as the originators of the work…
There comes a time, when our spouse turns cold and demands a divorce despite all we do to reconcile…
There comes a time in our lives when we feel lost, abandoned, and unappreciated…
When one pursues righteousness, confesses their sins openly, and cares deeply for others; one would reason that they would be valued…
Or so we thought?
What then can we do when these trials and tribulations come?
Are we to give up hope as the world seems to only reward those who agree with their values?
Sadly, so many people choose su***de as the answer to their hopeless situation when in reality there lies a hope that cannot be taken from us…
Remember this:
Values determine relationships….
What we value, what we cherish, what we know as sacred….
Those beliefs will determine our work ethic, our world view, and if we differ from the world we should be prepared for the impending storm…
Take comfort in the following words when the tribulations of this world come to our doorstep:
Jesus gave his disciples very specific and powerful instructions in the book of John. His words are for those who claim Him as Lord and Savior.
This means we are disciples, which should be understood what responsibility we have and what hardships we will face as such:
“The term “disciple” is derived from the Koine Greek word mathetes, which means a pupil (of a teacher) or an apprentice (to a master craftsman), coming to English by way of the Latin discipulus meaning a learner while the more common English word is student.
A disciple is different from an apostle, which instead means a messenger. While a disciple is one who learns from a teacher, an apostle is one sent to deliver those teachings or a message” (Wikipedia).
As disciples, then we are as learners, pupils, or apprentices to the ultimate master craftsman… Jesus Christ!
So why do we expect those who don’t share these same values as our Master to appreciate ours?
Should we be surprised?
On the contrary, we have forgotten our master craftsman’s words and may have slowly began to become an apprentice of the world instead.
When the world tells us that all truth is relative we know:
Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6).
When we face the trouble, trial, and tribulation may we remember:
Jesus said “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:1-3).

When the wicked prosper and are rewarded for their efforts we remember:
“Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end” (John 13:1).
“Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and the He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself.
After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded” (John 13:2-5).
One could write volumes on just these few mentioned scriptures but for this writing we should note that Jesus knew what He was facing (the crucifixion and God pouring out His wrath upon Him) and He loved those who were His own to the very end!
Remember, as He was dying on the cross “Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, because they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).
Remember and read (the book of John is a great place to start) the life of Jesus and see the Son of God, born into abject poverty in a stable where shepherds were chosen as His first messengers.
Shepherds were considered outcasts and lowly in terms of societal class in Biblical times.
He was baptized, even though He was sinless, and He sought out disciples who were all imperfect sinful men.
His three short years of ministering to them changed their lives, transformed their hearts, and He taught, healed, and stood up for truth.
Those disciples went on to change the world and they all faced incredible hardships. All of them but one died for their efforts.
And they were not recognized during their lives for their efforts but they were “surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses” (Hebrews 12:1b) of those who prophets who had gone before them.
They knew what they were facing and they endured to the very end.
Why?
Because they knew as Jesus did, who they belonged to, what reward awaited them, and that their love would lead to eternal dividends in the lives of generations to come.
Therefore, will we “grow weary in doing good?”
Or will we remember who we belong to, what we WILL face, and what reward awaits us?
All of this we do out of love for the one who loved us to the very end even though even He was unappreciated by the very people He came to save.
Don’t give up on this world, Jesus didn’t!
God Bless,
Andy J. Starnes
