John 15:18-25
If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world,  therefore the world hates you (John 15:19).

Friend, Jesus was hated, and we will be hated too. He was persecuted so we would be persecuted too. He said, “If you
were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:19).This is a consolation.

Jesus further confirmed that what we are experiencing and will experience is not new. What are we to do? We are to have a good attitude and know that because we are not of the world, the world will try to squeeze the nature and the life of God out of us. But we have the Lord’s love, strength and protection to live for Him and to shine as light and bear fruit to His glory.

From the passage, I also understand that you don’t have to do anything wrong before you are hated by the enemy. The fact that you are a Christian and you are connected to Jesus predisposes you to it. This is the consequence of being a Christian! They did it to Jesus they will do it to us. The earlier we get that into our psyche and choose to live right, the better. Jesus said,  “This fulfills what is written in their Scriptures: ‘They hated me without cause” (John 15:25, NLT). Do we need more explanation? I don’t think so. Fear not. The Lord will help us. Shalom.

Your Turn

• Thank God for today’s passage and devotional thoughts.
• Pray for the grace to develop a positive attitude towards the persecution of believers around the world.
• Pray for comfort for those who are being hated and persecuted now.

Hymn: My soul has found a resting place.

Further Reading: 2 Timothy 3:10-17.