HATRED!

You will be hated by everyone because of me… —Matthew 10:22

Is there anything you hate— that is, anything you extremely dislike? Isis and other extremists Muslim groups hate Christians. It is a very sad commentary on humanity to have such a hatred for another person or group that you feel you just have to slaughter them— men, women and children. Yes, it is a sad commentary and especially when people believe the lie that they are doing this for God.

For Christians to be so treated should not be a surprise. Jesus said, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. If I had not done among them the works no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. As it is, they have seen, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated me without reason’ (John 15:18-25).

The world system is headed up by Satan, the god of this world (II Corinthians 4:4). He is out to destroy Christians and he will use any device he can (I Peter 5:8). Now think about this. Why do people get upset when you talk about Jesus? I have seen the hatred in people’s eyes when talking about who Jesus is and what He has done for us on the cross and how He rose on the third day, proving Himself to be the Son of God (Romans 1:4). People talk about all kinds of things and others don’t get upset with it. But, they can surely get upset when you talk about Jesus!

Recently, I was on a Facebook group where I share these devotionals there as I do in many places. There were a couple of people that complained about it, but they did not complain about the filth that was put on there from time to time. Why is that? When Jesus is talked about, when sin is talked about, when people are challenged that they have broken God’s Law, their conscience (def: with knowledge) kicks in to convict them and they do not like it because they love their sin. Then they hate the message bearer of Jesus because the Lord used them to challenge their thinking and way of life. This is why people hate Christians— because Christians love Jesus and as the verse above says, “You will be hated by everyone because of me…” Because of Jesus we will be hated and that hatred leads groups that are in power to kill Christians regardless of age. These people are brutal because that is Satan’s nature and he leads people to carry out his ungodly, atrocious acts.

If you are reading this right now and feeling hatred toward me, it is because you have broken God’s Law and your conscience is convicting you of that— that you have done wrong. It is because you hate Jesus and those who follow Him and I am one of His followers. At this point you have a choice— repent (turn from your ways, follow God’s ways), put your faith (trust) in the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and for eternal life in Him— then grow in your relationship with Him— pray (talk with Him), read His Word (the Bible), spent time with other believers who are in relationship with God through Jesus and tell others about what Jesus has done for you. Grow in your love for God and people— even for your enemies (Matthew 22:37-40).

Dear Father, please help us to love You and to love people in Jesus authority!

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