Scripture: John
15:18-25
"If the world
hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you."
If the unconverted
people in this world hate me, I already know that the unconverted people in
the world hated Jesus before it hated me.
Observation:
The world does not
know that they are considered to be sinners by God unless God informs them of
their sin and their status as sinners. While the unconverted remain blissfully
in their darkness they do not know that they have been condemned and are lost.
But when the light comes through Jesus Christ and exposes their sin and their
status then they respond by hating Jesus Christ. Because I represent Christ,
the world hates me also. The comfort or consolation in this awareness is
that although the unconverted hate me, they hated Jesus first. So, if the
world hates Christ, they will hate me also.
The world's sin and lost condition is revealed by Christ.
Application:
Since this is such
an important point, I need to be aware that since the lost hate Christ and the
things of Christ, they will hate me, therefore, I must remain faithful,
obedient, and aware of the fact that the hatred that the world has towards me
is because the world hated Christ first for exposing their sin and their status
as lost and condemned.
Prayer:
Father, may I always be mindful of the fact that when
the world hates me it is because the world hates you for revealing to them
their sin and their status.
Interesting post Gregg, don't you think the word "Hate" is a bit strong?
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your week-end.
Yvonne.
No. it isn't a bit strong. First. it is the word that Jesus used to describe the world's feelings towards Christians. Second, look at what has been done to Christ, the Bible, Christianity and Christians through the centuries.
ReplyDeleteTruthfully, it isn't strong enough.