“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you” John 15:18-19 NASB2020
I need to speak about this today, as I literally went through it today. I think this conversation is well needed. As we serve God truly, we don’t realize that sometimes we will be faced with pretty rough challenges. What we also fail to remember is that Jesus was persecuted first, so why do we get shocked sometimes when we get attacked. If I’m being honest it’s hard to follow Jesus sometimes, because this world doesn’t want to know about God. Or maybe they believe in God, but they follow Him so that he can fit their needs. People don’t understand that God has literally made us in His image. He’s also a parent who loves his children, and has put boundaries on His children to protect them. He created us for Him, not so we can live however we want. And still He’s so beautiful, because He allows us to choose Him back, He doesn’t force us. God is a parent who loves all His children, but doesn’t agree with our sinful ways, people like to twist this argument to their convenience. I’ve been realizing that sometimes we Christians get scared to talk about God, when people in the world do a better job at evangelism for the god of this world. If you love pleasing yourself you are living for the master of this world. That’s what the word of God says, you can’t serve too masters. You either serve God or the master of this world. You are either a slave to Christ or to the father of this world. You see the enemy has tricked people into thinking that self-pleasing/righteousness is better. The enemy has people fooled, people think they are truly living for themselves, but they are truly just obeying and following the enemy. You see the enemy came to kill, steal and destroy. He doesn’t want you to truly live for God. I love God because He gives us hope, but not only that, He’s persistent in guiding us to lead others along with us to Him. While on the other-hand with the world, it’s all about what can benefit the self! Let me be better than the other person, have more than the other person. I come today passionately to say that we need not to be ashamed of the gospel. If the world is not scared to proclaim their god, why should we be scared to proclaim our God, the one who truly saves!! You see today got me thinking… I’m doing a disservice not telling the Truth to those around me. We are gatekeeping the truth because of what??? Being scared that those around us will judge us. They will judge us only for a while and then realize the Truth!!! Would you rather them be mad at you or truly be saved…? We don’t love those around us enough, if we don’t tell the truth! Who cares what people think, I get it if they are family. But even Jesus knew the true assignment as He was being raised up…
Remember these words…
“And a crowd was sitting around Him, and they *said to Him, “Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are outside looking for You.” Answering them, He *said, “Who are My mother and My brothers?” And looking around at those who were sitting around Him, He *said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God, this is My brother, and sister, and mother” Mark 3:32-35 NASB2020.
I believe Jesus was saying that His family are those who believe in God, who truly follow His paths. We are so focused on the wrong things sometimes… We need to be bold and stand up for the gospel! Who cares what people think, proclaim the gospel !! You don’t know what God is doing or wants to do. If He has brought you this far, He will lead you to the end, TRUST HIM! FEAR NOT! Who cares about what people think about you, let God take care of that!