Words of love “This is
my command that you love each other,” (John 15:17) turned quickly to words of
hatred, (John 15:18) “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. All this I have told you so that you will not fall away." (John 16:1)
The disciples would surely wonder as
all persecuted Christians do, why God would allow them to suffer at the hands
of evil people. Jesus’ warnings of persecution (that some would be killed,) remains
a stark reality throughout the world. Ongoing numbers of martyred Christians is
staggering!
How does the world
system recognize us as followers of Jesus? “By this everyone will know that you
are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35.) “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit
that we are God's children." (Romans 8:16)
We are caught in the crossfire of
the world’s hatred of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Young people are often most
vulnerable.
In conversation with my grandsons about Jesus’s warning of hatred, sixteen year old Carter had this to
say- “Jesus tells them that all the hate they deal with is what he had to go
through before them, and that if we truly believe in him we will endure the
hate and persecution that comes with following him."
Thirteen year old Landon followed with – “If you truly love
Christ you will find the strength and willpower to ignore the hatred and say
loud and proud that you love Christ and no one can stop you. He will give you
the strength to do this.”
“Dear
friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were
happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of
Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.: (1 Peter 4:12-13)
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