A Special Message for Christians in America

 Scripture: John 15:18-25 (NIV)

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 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 also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’

Devotion:

In John 15:18-25, Jesus speaks to His disciples about the inevitability of persecution and the deep-seated hatred the world holds against Him and, by extension, His followers. This passage is a forewarning and a profound reminder of the cost of discipleship and the unwavering commitment required to follow Christ.

Jesus begins by acknowledging the world's hatred, a powerful emotion that He personally experienced. "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you," He tells His disciples, drawing a parallel between their suffering and His own. This kinship in suffering is both a solace and a challenge; while it offers comfort in knowing that we are not alone, it also calls us to bear our crosses with fortitude.

The crux of this passage lies in Jesus' distinction between His followers and the world. He chose us out of the world, setting us apart. This divine selection is the root of the world’s hatred—it does not recognize or accept those who belong to Christ. "If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own," He explains. Our alienation from worldly values is a testament to our allegiance to Jesus.

Jesus' words, "A servant is not greater than his master," remind us of our place in the divine hierarchy. If He, the Master, faced persecution, inevitably, His servants will too. This is not a reason for despair but a call to steadfastness. Jesus assures us that the persecution we face is "on account of my name," a direct result of our relationship with Him and our bold proclamation of His truth.

While it is true that people have always hated Christians, we Christians must admit that some of that hatred is not without basis. We must always check our eyes for logs before attempting to remove a tiny speck in someone else’s eye. Always check yourself to make sure what you do or say would please Jesus if he were standing there to judge you.

The second warning I have for Christians is this. Do not trust politicians of any party or in any nation to be friendly toward Christianity. While many Christians may be pleased or upset over the election results in America, there is no assurance that things will go markedly better or worse for people of faith under the new leadership. The news in other countries is no better. The Asad regime in Syria was far from perfect. However, it allowed the tens of thousands of Syrian Christians freedom of worship and belief. It is apparent that its replacement government will be an Islamist regime that may not be so friendly to our brothers and sisters in the faith in Syria. It should be noted that the church in Syria is an Ancient church with roots back as far as AD35

In conclusion, John 15:18-25 encourages us to find strength in facing persecution. It assures us of Jesus’ solidarity in our suffering. It calls us to remain faithful, remembering that our struggles are a reflection of our divine calling and our commitment to Him. Let us hold fast to His promise and continue to walk in His ways, even when the path is fraught with trials.