The world hates us...that is okay!

Last week I shared with you about the mystery of Sudden Branch Drop Syndrome in trees and how it reminds us of John 15 where Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches”.  Jesus told us if we remain in Him, we will be a strong branch and never be at risk of suddenly leaving His side.  This week I was reading the rest of John 15 and was reminded of the grim reality that the world hates us.  Don’t be alarmed; it is for a good cause!

 

On the night of His arrest, Jesus was sitting with His disciples.  He was comforting them and preparing them for what was to come.  We read in John 15:18-19, shortly after He told them “I am the vine; you are the branches”, that “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.  If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”  This could not have been easy words for the disciples to hear.  But at the same time, they also experienced this hate firsthand as they followed Jesus while He was with them.  So why would the world hate us today then you ask?  Simply put Jesus calls us to be His disciples as well.

 

We are not guaranteed a life of joy and peace as followers of Jesus Christ.  Yes, you will find hope and peace as a Christian.  But we live in fallen world that wants to protect its ways.  Everywhere you look sin is abound and Satan is on a mission to trap as many of us as he can.  And he’s good at it!  Sin has a grasp on many hearts and when those hearts fight hard to protect what they believe to be true, you as a Christian become the opponent.  You will be hated for living out the word of God that calls us to love your neighbor as yourself.  You will be hated for forgiving somebody else more than once.  You will be hated for showing mercy to even the foulest of souls.  You will be hated for encouraging your fellow believers to live responsibly.  It is only natural for those of a fallen world to hate those who bring the hope of heaven.  But have faith my friend!  You can have peace knowing that Jesus has prepared a place for you in Heaven and by inviting Him into your heart, one day you too will be there right beside Him!  Amen!

 

Christians all over the world are hated, and some are even persecuted, for following Jesus Christ.  We knew this would be possible when we “took up our nets and choose to be fishers of men”.  Hang in there my friend.  You are loved as well!  The road was not promised to be easy along the way, but your walk with Jesus will one day end in a glorious celebration in Heaven!  Have a blessed day!  Thanks for spending some time with me today.  Let’s work together as MEN ON THE ROOF to ensure NO MAN IS LEFT BEHIND!