John 15:18-176 (King James Version)
18If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
19If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
20Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
In this world there is a war being waged and we're losing. We're losing because we have forgotten what we are fighting for. We are so busy making sure that we look right, dress right and speak right, we've forgotten to DO right. I don't mean we're running around sinning at every opportunity, I mean we've forgotten the TWO COMMANDMENTS! To love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength and to love our neighbors as ourselves. Jesus said that on these two thing hang all the law and the prophets! In other words the entire Old Testament is wrapped up in these two commandments!
We know we fail God on a daily basis. At least I HOPE we know that. We know that there are thoughts and actions in our lives that don't honor God. We don't seem to have too much trouble admitting that.
We do, however, have trouble admitting that we fail our neighbour. We overlook those in need. We look at those who don't believe as unworthy to be around. We see them as untrustworthy and dirty.
Admit it...if you found out someone was an atheist, would it change the way you look at them?
I know I've been guilty of it.
How can you lead someone to Christ that you look down on? Is it possible that you disassociate yourself from "bad people" so much that you don't even see the opportunity to witness to them?
What good would a doctor be if he decided only to see healthy patients?
Jesus said in Matthew 11:29 "Take my you upon you, and learn* from me; for I am meek and lowly heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls" (*emphasis mine)
Is that the way we are today? Are we meek and lowly? or are we overbearing and judgemental?
The world should hate us, Jesus said they would. But the world should hate us because we love God. They should hate us because we won't join them in idle gossip. They should hate us because we strive to be as much like Jesus as possible.
They shouldn't hate us because we hate them.
What was the reason the world hated Jesus?
He loved people.
He told the truth.
He went against the traditions of man and taught the Word of God.
Why does the world hate Christians?
We discriminate and judge.
They see us as hypocrites.
We have gotten away from the Word of God and gone back to the traditions of man.
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