I Will Not Back Down. John 15:18-27

John 15
The World’s Hatred 
18 “If the world hates you, remember that it hated Me first. 19 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. 20 Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted Me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to Me, they would listen to you. 21 They will do all this to you because of Me, for they have rejected the One who sent Me. 22 They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Anyone who hates Me also hates my Father. 24 If I hadn’t done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they would not be guilty. But as it is, they have seen everything I did, yet they still hate Me and My Father. 25 This fulfills what is written in their Scriptures: ‘They hated Me without cause.’ 26 “But I will send you the Advocate—the Spirit of truth. He will come to you from the Father and will testify all about Me. 27 And you must also testify about Me because you have been with Me from the beginning of My ministry. 

How many of us have felt the hate from this world because of our love for Jesus? We are laughed at and ridiculed at work. We are bullied in public by strangers. We are ostracized by our own family because of our belief. I have experienced all of these situations. It hurts. 

But I will not back down. 

Once we discover the love Christ has for us, how can we walk away? His love fills the voids left by the hatred of this world. His love is healing. Jesus did nothing wrong yet 2000 years later, people still have such a hatred towards Him they continue to kill those who love Him. And the hatred will continue until He returns. 

If you aren't being hated for your faith, your not being effective for God. And sadly the reality is, if they hate you because of your love for Jesus, they hate Jesus too. If the hate Jesus they also hate God. If they hate God, they are doomed to hell. If they are doomed to hell, their hearts are hard. The only way to change a hard heart is through prayer. 

Lord I lift up in prayer all those hated by this world because of You. Strengthen them so they may continue to be bold in sharing the Gospel of Truth. Soften the hearts of those who hate us because of You and let Your Light seep into their lives. We pray this in Your name Lord Jesus, Amen

Blessings, Cecilia