READY:
“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.” — John 15:19
SET:
Think about the most intense sports rivalry you know. No matter the level, sports rivalries tend to bring out the worst in people. When we connect with Jesus and cultivate a relationship with Him we join a team that is disliked by “the world”. A quick search reveals that the meaning of world in the context of John 15:19 is that of the “world order which is alienated from God” (Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible).
It is akin to continually competing at an away game. Rivals or not, playing at your opponent’s home venue is never ideal. In club sports, that is sometimes neutralized but you get the idea. The crowd is against you and your team. The officials seem to favor the home team. The atmosphere is just different when you play an away game.
Jesus is warning the disciples (and us) ahead of time. If we’ve followed Jesus for any amount of time, we’ve likely felt it to some extent. We may not have felt hated, but we have certainly experienced some push-back on our beliefs. It should come as no surprise that the “world order alienated from God” does not like the things of God.
So, what are we to do? We commit. We remain. We connect to Jesus and cultivate a relationship that produces fruit. We choose to love just as He commanded us to and thus prove to be His disciples.
GO:
- How can committing to following Jesus actually help when you face “the world”?
- Have you experienced any push back because you are a follower of Jesus?
WORKOUT:
OVERTIME:
“Lord, in my flesh, I do not want to be hated or even disliked. But what else is there but You? You are the source of life. Give me a heart committed to You and Your ways no matter what persecution and adversity comes along. In Jesus’ name, amen.”