John 15:18–27 (ESV)
The Hatred of the World
18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world,
but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they
kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them,
they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they
would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’
26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear
witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.
There are several temptations that Christians can fall into… 1) The need to appear or look
Cool. Many Christians want to be cool or to be perceived to be cool. The problem is the ways of the world are not God’s ways. Man wants to draw attention to him/herself. I often hear people saying “well, what about me?”
Through studying the Bible, we learn that as a Christian… it’s not about us, but giving glory to God. We are to become less and God is to become more. So what that means is that the ways of the world are not compatible with the ways
of God. The other temptation is to think about is 2) If you are faithful, nothing bad will happen to you. Let me break this thought IMMEDIATELY!!! Jesus had a perfect faith, yet the people persecuted him and nailed him to the cross…
they killed him. So much for “health, wealth, and prosperity to those who believe.” In fact, Jesus says “If the world hates you, know that is has hated me [Jesus] before it hated you. We need to expect persecution.
I pray: O Lord, I pray that the Holy Spirit guide me, even when persecuted, to bear witness to you … even to the point of death. Forgive me when I fail,
and rebuild me to stand firm in the faith. Amen.