If the world hates you….realize it hated Me first. If you belong to the world…the world will have you as one of its own. No slave is greater than the master. If they persecuted Me..they will do the same to you.
Believing in Christ does not remove us from the world’s hatred or persecution. Our Lord warns us of this fact. Despite some preaching stating otherwise, believing in the Lord does not mean your problems will disappear. No. The Lord does not say that all! Note what the Lord does say! The difficulties that come our way is not all about us! Our Lord is the one that is important. The world does not hate us..because of us. It hates us, because of Jesus.
To the extent you follow His call out of the world, out of its anger, the more it will react. Not because of us, but because of Him.
These words are important. When life gets difficult and we feel alone, these things happen to a Christian because you are not alone. If you weren’t with Me, thing would be easier on some levels. Goodness is hard. It is not easy. Happiness is neither easy to acquire or easy to hold onto in one’s life. One of the signs of a real Christian, is a difficulty in navigating worldly affairs. The Lord warns his disciples to be aware and ready for this condition. Sooner or later difficulties will come via the world.
Do not be afraid, but be ready is Jesus’ words to his disciplines.
In this context, the Lord sends His Spirit. So that the Christian can stand with a peaceful heart, to live in faith with the Lord. Listen to this audio to reaffirm this Christian fact and ready yourself for the challenges and beauty in following Jesus.
