Jesus said to his disciples:
“If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.
If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own;
but because you do not belong to the world,
and I have chosen you out of the world,
the world hates you.” (Jn 15:18-19)
HATE: to dislike intensely or passionately; feel extreme aversion for or extreme hostility toward; detest.
Hate is a pretty strong word.
It is a pretty strong emotion.
It is real.
Make no mistake about it. The world, steeped in sin, still hates. It hates all that Jesus stood for, it hates all that Jesus stands for, it will continue to hate all that Jesus is.
In the process of hating Jesus, the world abhors any of the Lord’s followers as well.
Jesus knew that.
He warned His followers that would take place.
But it doesn’t matter.
Because we need to rise above the hatred in the world and do the bidding of the Lord. The Lord’s bidding might be easy, it might be difficult, it might be met with great resistance. However, if the Lord asks, we should be willing to do whatever He wants.
Why?
Because we do not belong to this world. We do not embrace the hatred of the world.
No.
We belong to the Lord.
There is — nor should be — no room in our hearts for hatred.
FAITH ACTION: Hate is a pretty powerful emotion. Yet we may have hatred in our hearts for a certain person or group of people. In prayer this day, ask the Lord to reveal any hatred or malice that may be in your heart. As you identify it, turn it over to the Lord and ask Him to replace that hatred with His pure love.