John 15:18-20 "If the world hate you, ye
know that it hated me before it hated you. (19) If ye were of the
world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I
have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
(20) Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not
greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute
you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also."
"If the world hate you..." My mind is stuck on that phrase and
the word "if" in particular. If the world hates you there is a
possibility that the world would love you. But be assured that is not a
compliment in the mind of God and His Word. If the world loves me, then
that says I am thinking, talking, and acting like the world. The world
loves its own. When the Scriptures speak of "the world", it is
telling of an order of life and business that is contrary to the manner
prescribed by God. So, I can be certain that my life is not in accordance
to God's Word if the world loves me.
"If the world hate you...", you can know for certain that you are
doing right in the sight of God. If the world hates us then we are
walking in the paths of righteousness wherein we are being led by the Lord, our
Shepherd. The world's order (even the world's religious order) hated, and still
hates, Jesus. He taught in a manner that was contrary to their
traditions. He taught and lived according to the manner our Heavenly Father
laid down for Him. It is by God's amazing grace that God chose us to walk in a
manner contrary to the world.
We should not count it a defeat when we are not accepted by those who live in
an ungodly manner. In fact, we should not even desire to be accepted by
them. Peter wrote to a group of people who had been scattered into an
unfamiliar country because of their love and commitment unto the Lord Jesus. He
had much to say concerning living a life that was contrary to the ungodly.
"Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same
excess of riot, speaking evil of you." (1 Peter 4:4) If we could put
this in modern language, Peter was warning the people not to cave in to peer
pressure, even if the people speak evil things against you.
He went on to say concerning those trials of faith wherein we are constantly
faced. "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial
which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
(13) But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's
sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with
exceeding joy." (1 Peter 4:12-13) It seems Peter listened intently
to Jesus that night in the upper room, would you not think?
Rejoice if your love for the Lord Jesus is the reason for the world hating you and not accepting you. Be assured He has chosen you unto salvation and brought you into service. The Father has accepted you through the work of our Lord's redemptive shed blood.