THOSE WHO LOVE JESUS WILL FACE OPPOSITION!

THOSE WHO LOVE JESUS WILL FACE OPPOSITION!

And you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. —Mark 13:13

You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. —Matthew 10:22

            One of the “signs” of being in the end times is that those following Jesus “will be hated by all” because of His Name.  The world system does not like Jesus and don’t think that is going to change.  The conflict between the Kingdom of God/Light and kingdom of Satan/darkness has existed ever since Eve was tempted and both Eve and Adam sinned against the Lord God Almighty (Genesis chapter 3).

            Take a look at what happens in the very next chapter, chapter 4.

“Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.  Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”  Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.  Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”  “I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”  The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground.” —Genesis 4:3-10

            Right from the beginning, in the very first family of the earth, “Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you” (I John 3:12-13).  Don’t be surprised!

            But what is to be our focus when someone hates us?  “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked” (Luke 6:35).  We can trust God to make things right and we are not to take things into our own hands.  “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord” (Romans 12:19; Deuteronomy 32:35; Hebrews 10:30).  God knows perfectly what needs to be done and we can trust Him for that.  So let us love people and God will do what needs to be done.  Trust Him for that!

Dear Father, whether people hate me or love me, may I keep my eyes on Jesus and finish the race with perseverance that You have marked out for me to run.  May this be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus.  Yes, may this be so! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLX83HbefrI