Ya know, I don't know about you, but I've kind of lived my whole life hoping people like me. It has always been very hard for me to know that someone doesn't. Right now I am having to deal with this and it isn't easy. What's even crazier about it is that it's someone that I've never met in person. It kills me. I don't know her and it kills me. It's mostly because she doesn't believe the same as me. She does not believe the Bible. She is not saved by the Grace of God. This makes me sad. I am just going to pray for her. I hope that she realizes her need for Jesus. I pray that the Lord would break my heart for her. I pray that the Lord would give me a heart for the lost.
So I said all that to say this. It is a hard thing to understand, but if you stand for what is right, here on earth... people will not like you. They will down right hate you. It is sad but when you uphold the truth the Bible tells us this will happen.
John 15
18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 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. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 He who hates Me hates My Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. 25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.
18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19 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. 20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 He who hates Me hates My Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. 25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.
So it makes sense because the world hated Him then, the world hates Him now. If He is truly in me then the world will hate me. My need for approval is a huge barrier when it comes to telling others about Christ. Even here on the blog, I think well, maybe I shouldn't say that because I might offend someone. Honestly, though... I should say it because it will offend someone. It will make someone think about their life. It may cause someone to question their beliefs and turn to Christ. The Word offends when you don't have Jesus, it offends when you do have Jesus, but that's a whole other post. It tells you that you need Jesus and that you are a sinner. It tells you that the way you live isn't pleasing to the Lord. I know this because I have been on the receiving end of the offense.
HUGS - ya know, you're so right...if HE is within us, we will not always be loved by others...those of the world. Thank God our life on earth is short!
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