"16 "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues,
18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for MY sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.
19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.
20 For it is not you who speak, but the SPIRIT of your FATHER speaking through you.
21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death,
22 and "YOU WILL BE HATED" by all FOR MY NAME's SAKE. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
23 When THEY PERSECUTE YOU IN ONE TOWN, FLEE TO THE NEXT, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the SON of MAN comes."
Being formerly a person who always wanted to see progress, my mentality was if something wasn't being done to advance my cause then I wasn't trying hard enough! Offending others was part of the risk of getting things done, but my view was at least something was being accomplished! In preparing for my Sunday School lesson recently I came across these verses and my eyes were opened to a NEW (to me) TRUTH.
JESUS was hated by "this world" because of WHO HE was and what HE stood for. HE didn't have to do ANYTHING that offended, being "HOLY" was enough! One cannot please everyone (Matthew 6:24) and it shouldn't surprise us when our behavior offends "this world". CHRIST lives in us and "this world" and CHRIST were diametrically opposed. "This world" wants to show what they have accomplished while Believers in HIM desire to GOD be glorified!
My pastor recently shared with our congregation a list of things named "Proud People vs. Broken People" (http:familylife.com/articles/topics/faith/essentials/repentance/proud-people-vs-broken-people). "YOU WILL BE HATED" is "this world's" way of separating themselves from Believers (or Broken People!). When we "choose you this day" (Joshua 24:15) so serve the LORD we set ourselves against the "Proud People" and their ways! And all we have to do is live for HIM to attract such venom!
Matthew 10:22 says ""YOU WILL BE HATED" by all FOR MY NAME's SAKE"! The simple fact of having the Spirit of JESUS living inside of my body is enough to offend most of "this world"! The Spirit of the Living GOD and the spirit of "this world" have been opposed to each other since "the beginning"! The most offensive thing I could ever do to "this world" is allow JESUS to reign and rule in my life! There is a reason "YOU WILL BE HATED" in my life. What is the reason for you???
No comments:
Post a Comment