Topic: BE CAREFUL; THESE PEOPLE HATE YOU!
Text: 15:17-27
15:17 These things I command you, that you love one another.
15:18 If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.
15:19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
15:20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
15:21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.
15:22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.
15:23 He who hates Me hates My Father also.
15:24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father.
15:25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’ you, setting you on the throne of Israel! Because the Lord has loved Israel forever, therefore He made you king, to do justice and righteousness.”
15:26“But when the [a]Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. and twenty talents of gold, spices in great quantity, and precious stones. There never again came such abundance of spices as the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.
15:27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
STUDY:
In 2009, a particular religious sect intensified their wicked onslaught against Christians in Nigeria. At a time, they attacked the police headquarters Abuja. Their leaked information after their meeting stated that they hated Jesus Christ, Christians, and the Jews, and they would do everything within their power to wipe out Christians in Nigeria. The world hates Christians because they (world) hated Christ. The reason for this is because Christians are not of the world, and do not live in sin or practise wickedness. Christianity forbids corruption, fraud, idolatry, cheating, using false weights and measures, etc., but the world loves these vices. Since a disciple is not greater than his master, it means that if the world persecutes Christ, it must also persecute us. Since the world also hates and persecutes, we must be careful to remain righteous. It is better to suffer for righteousness than to suffer as a sinner or as a thief (1 Pet. 3:17).
Despite the above, many Christians have been caught stealing in offices, cheating in examinations and interviews, involvement in adultery or fornication, or fighting in homes or offices. Remember, the world will always set a trap for you and wait for your fall so that they can celebrate. You must be careful not to fall into their traps. As for persecution, all that must live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution. (2 Tim. 3:12-13) You must be careful and courageous.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, please save me from the snares of evil men, and help me to endure persecution and hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
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