Today’s Encouragement is John 15:18-19 NLT “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.
If The world hates you –
This is encouraging because Jesus has already told us what we would experience as His disciples. We need not be shocked, surprised, or frightened by the hatred that might come (He did say “If!”) from the world toward us and His church. They hated Him… so they hate us.
It’s also encouraging because He said, “I chose you to come out of the world”! Do you ever feel ‘different’, isolated, and separated from others? Maybe even excluded, mocked, or picked on? My friend, remember how the world, even in His hometown… treated Him! They wanted to throw Him off a cliff! And eventually, they did kill Him! Because… they hated Him! The world hates Jesus! And us too – because we are His followers!
My friend, there are many biblical examples of the distinction between the world and us as believers in Christ. And these are provided to encourage us to press on in Faith. We don’t follow Christ to be popular, successful, wealthy, or famous… those things are for this world. Our true home, our reward – is in Eternity! And our blessings are far beyond anything this world has to offer!
Father Help us to see, to fix our eyes on Your kingdom and Your truth, and to recognize and understand that hatred naturally comes from this world to You, and to those of us who follow You. We choose to follow.
This World is Not My Home
Blue Highway
Today’s Encouragement 