If The World Hates You, You Know That It hated Me Before It Hated You
Nothing Of This World Is Worthing Losing Your Soul
JOHN 15:18-19
“”If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 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.”
John 15:18-19 NKJV
https://bible.com/bible/114/jhn.15.18-19.NKJV
God has chosen you who believe to be His very own people. He knows your every sin, past and future, your flaws, weaknesses, failures, and your strengths.
He see's right into your heart (1 SAMUEL 16:7), in deed, He sees your every thought, and with nothing hidden, God chose you.
Therefore, you are longer of this world, for God separated you from it, and just as the world hates Jesus, it hates you; and just as those of this world persecuted Christ, they will persecute you.
But those with open hearts to accept Christ will listen to you, for Christ chose them too and He is using you to reach out to them.
Therefore “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20 NKJV
So you see how it is, just as Christ suffered for you, you can expect to suffer for Christ; “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.”
Philippians 1:29-30 NKJV
But however, their are always consequences for both our good and evil deeds. Therefore we must endeavour to live godly lives free from sin. “For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
I Peter 2:20-25 NKJV
My beloved, our goal like Jesus, without any selfish agendas or ambitions, must be of one accorde, to reach out to the lost; those with open hearts and bring them to the Lordship of Christ.
Jesus, “When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.””
Mark 8:34-38 NKJV
Are you ready to take up your cross? To suffer for Christ and to let go of the ungodly things of this world?
Rather than living for self today, we must choose to live selflessly for our eternal future.
Our service to the Lord must be pure and without any kind of selfish ambition; for we are not serving to be put on a pedestal however great the sermon, or however many people are healed by one’s hand, for we believers can do nothing good without Christ and it is Him alone who deserves the glory.
Furthermore, we must be will willing to give up the evil things of this world and separate from them.
Paul’s message to the Corinthians applies to us believers today.
He said, “O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open. Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.””
II Corinthians 6:11-18 NKJV
Are the temporary things of this world really worth losing your soul for? What is the gain of having riches and status, or the best car, house, or job, if it cost you your soul?
Is there anything in this world worth destroying your eternal future?
Every gain from this world is temporary.
As Jesus told us us, ““Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6:19-21 NKJV
Life isn’t always easy and suffering is a part of it.
But Jesus paid a high price for you, don't let His suffering be in vain. Don’t insult Him by denying Him after He did so much for you.
Jesus said, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”
Matthew 16:24-26 NKJV
Regardless of your sinful past, He made a way for you; that you can receive the many promises that God has made; joy, peace, and success in the chaos of this world, and the confident hope of a wonderful eternal future in paradise with God.
A future of perfect happiness, contentment, peace and love that nothing can spoil; not sickness, poverty, death or mourning, for all these things will pass away with this world.
Therefore, let it go, don't be a part of it's fate.
My brethren, if it seems the world hates you, it probably does, simply because you love Jesus!
The devil’s time is running out and he is determined to to take as many souls as he can to his final destination with him.
But you know that the world hated Jesus before it hated you, and all these things, Christ loved the world; “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
John 3:16-17 NKJV
All glory to God forever and ever. Amen
