What Jesus Did : John 15:18-20 - Hostility from the World
by Phil Ware
Hostility from the World - John 15:18-20
"If the world hates you, remember that the world hated me first. If you belonged to the world, then the world would love you like it loves its own people. But I have chosen you out of the world. So you don't belong to the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the lesson I told you: A servant is not greater than his master. If people did wrong to me, then they will do wrong to you too. And if people obeyed my teaching, then they will obey yours too." (ERV) Full TextKey Thought
Hate! We don't like that word, do we? Especially when we are the target of hate. Yet those who are disciples of Jesus must realize that their hero was unjustly murdered by those who rejected him because of jealousy, hate, misunderstanding, and rivalry. Some of us will follow in his steps. Some, even to martyrdom itself. Our hardships and difficulties do not invalidate Jesus' call. Neither does it invalidate our ministry. These problems are a reminder that there is a spiritual battle for every human heart. Satan will do all he can to silence the voices of those who bring God's salvation.
Today's Prayer
Father, please make me more aware of your servants who are facing persecution and hardship today. Give me courage to stand for your truth and live your ethics even if those values cost me ridicule or rejection. Please let your glory be praised in my life, whether I find myself in hardship and persecution or in good times and acceptance. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
Today's Verses in Context
"If the world hates you, remember that the world hated me first. If you belonged to the world, then the world would love you like it loves its own people. But I have chosen you out of the world. So you don't belong to the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember the lesson I told you: A servant is not greater than his master. If people did wrong to me, then they will do wrong to you too. And if people obeyed my teaching, then they will obey yours too. People will do all this to you because of me. They don't know the One who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to the people of the world, then they would not be guilty of sin. But now I have spoken to them. So they have no excuse for their sin. Any person that hates me also hates my Father. I did things among those people that no other person has ever done. If I had not done those things, they would not be guilty of sin. But they have seen those things I did. And still they hate me and my Father. But this happened so that what is written in their law would be true: 'They hated me for no reason.' "I will send you the Helper from the Father. The Helper is the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father. When he comes, he will tell about me. And you will tell people about me too, because you have been with me from the beginning.-- John 15:18-27 (ERV)
URL: http://www.heartlight.org/wjd/john/1010-wjd.html
(c)2001-2006, Phil Ware and Heartlight, Inc.
©1996-2002, Heartlight, Inc. - http://www.heartlight.org