Kong Hee: God's FavorSample

Conviction vs Criticism

In the 1980s, my dear friend and mentor Pastor Phil Pringle founded Christian City Church, one of the very first mega-churches in Australia. Back in those days, churches were still very much into singing hymns and traditional choruses. Pastor Phil was one of the pioneers who introduced modern grooves and melodies into church music. As a result, many people criticized him for being "too worldly."

But that introduction of the church to contemporary musical genres became the precursor of the style of music that so many worship leaders use today. Through his willingness to experience criticism in order to stand by his godly convictions, Pastor Phil has helped to changed the music that we sing and listen to in church, which in turn, has helped the church gain relevance in the culture of our day!

Often, it’s so much easier to cave in to peer pressure rather than choosing to be bold for Christ. But the Bible is clear that our calling is to "obey God rather than men" (Acts 5:29). We can't let others dictate our level of commitment to God… We need to follow where God wants us to go, even if it involves making unpopular choices.

When it comes to God's calling on your life, always stand firm. Know that if it's God’s will, His grace and blessing will far outweigh any criticism you may receive!

Prayer for the day:

Ask God to give you the courage to stand firm in the face of criticism for following His will. Ask for the assurance of His grace and favor upon your life as you choose to obey Him.