IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

If the World Hates You

Date: May. 20, 2024

Passage

John 15:18-27 (ESV)

18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 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. 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 also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 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. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 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. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’

26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 15:19

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.

Our Savior Jesus chose us out of the world to belong to him. However, being chosen by Christ does not exempt us from all difficulties in this life. In fact, we often face opposition from the world such as misunderstanding, hatred, and persecution. Jesus tells us not to be surprised when we are hated by the world, which is in rebellion against God. Since the world hated Jesus and crucified him, it is not strange for his disciples to also be hated. As the world hated Jesus because he exposed its sin, so the world will hate his disciples when they do not conform to the patterns of this world but live in obedience to the word of Jesus. Jesus’ people do not look for persecution or hostility, but they must not be afraid of persecution for Jesus. If we suffer for Jesus, we must rejoice like the apostles, for we are counted worthy of suffering disgrace for His Name (Ac 5:41). We are in the world, but not of the world. We were called out of the world to belong to our Lord Jesus Christ!

When we are hated or persecuted by the world, what should we do? We must not be afraid, but keep our identity as Jesus’ people, remembering his words (18,20). Most of all, we must make it an opportunity to witness to Jesus by depending on the Advocate, the Spirit of truth, who dwells in us.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for calling me out of the sinful world to belong to you. Help me to live as your disciple in this hostile world as your witness.

One Word: Called to belong and witness to Christ

Daily Bread

The Lord Establishes David As King

2 Samuel 5:1-16

Key Verse: 5:12

Read More

Intro Daily