Unpopular - When Your World Explodes – August 15 Readings: John 15:18-25 – Don’t Expect the World’s Love

John 14-16: When Your World Explodes

Jesus knew, the night before his death, that the disciples' world was about to be blown to pieces. He would be arrested, tried, and crucified. They'd committed themselves to Jesus and he would be gone. In this powerful message, Jesus prepared the disciples to live in peace and spiritual power when the world around them was falling apart.

We will take the next three weeks delving into this passage.

Today's Reading: John 15:18-25       

18 “If the world hates you, understand that it hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you. 20 Remember the word I spoke 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 also keep yours. 21 But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they don’t know the one who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 The one who hates me also hates my Father. 24 If I had not done the works among them that no one else has done, they would not be guilty of sin. Now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But this happened so that the statement written in their law might be fulfilled: They hated me for no reason.

Through the Bible Readings: Job 41-42, Romans 6, Psalm 94:20–23, Proverbs20:14–15 

If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings. 

Devotional:     

"It we do not change the way we are doing things, the church will be dead in a generation." I generally hear this statement from people who want the church to change its views on moral issues. We take stands that are increasingly unpopular in this world and people will tell us that if we do not bend to popular opinion, if we do not go along with the majority, the church will die. There is a subtle, and no so subtle assumption that if the world doesn't like what we are doing, that if we are offending people, we must be doing something wrong. 

Jesus made a strong statement to the contrary in John 15:18-25. He made it clear that we, as Christians, live in hostile territory. This world is not our home. American Christians have too long been lulled to sleep by a society that was at least nominally supportive of our values and beliefs. We are just now waking up to the reality that we live in enemy territory and are loyal to a kingdom distinct from any in this world.

Jesus predicted that God's people would be hated in the world. Jesus was hated and that they would receive the same treatment if they served him. If we walk in Christ and in his ways, we will face hostility, ridicule, and disdain from this world. That is just part of living for Jesus in a world that is living in rebellion against him. Look at verse 19.

 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. However, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of it, the world hates you. 

We get bothered at the first sign of any suffering in the name of Christ. Perhaps it ought to cause us more consternation when we do not suffer. Perhaps that is a sign that we have become too much a part of this world, shaped by its values and walking in its ways. We fit in so well the world hardly sees the distinctions that would make it reject and hate us. 

That is the other side of the John passage. We live in hostile territory and can expect to face suffering and disdain in the world. But the world must be reminded that there is a God in heaven to whom they must answer. So, while our sufferings in this world might be increasingly strong, they do not compare at all to the sufferings in eternity of those who forget God and live their lives as if he did not exist.

Our duty is not to seek ease and comfort, but to persevere in obedience and faithfulness until we see Jesus face to face. 

Father, I thank you that you have brought me into your kingdom. May I live for you regardless of what anyone in this sin saturated world thinks about it or says about me. 

Think and Pray:

Do you labor under the deception that the world should love us and accept as Christians? 

Is there suffering in your life that can be directly tied to your relationship to Christ?