March 12
“These things I command you, that you love one another. If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 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. 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,” John 15:17-20.
In many Scripture passages in the Gospels and in the Epistles, Christians are urged to demonstrate their faith by loving one another. Actually, the words, “love one another,” summarize our Christian responsibility. We are not talking about love as portrayed in most of the Hollywood films and TV shows. The love of which Jesus is speaking is a loving concern for the welfare of both body and soul of fellow Christians in particular: “As we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith,” Galatians 6:10, and to all of our fellowmen in general: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” Matthew 19:19.
It is a love that is patterned after the love of the Lord Jesus, who said, “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you,” John 15:12. “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us,” Romans 5:8. It should be patterned after the love of our gracious heavenly Father, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” 1 John 3:1. “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life,” John 3:16.
The Savior informs us that, as Christians, we will be hated in this world. It was that way in Jesus’ day, and it is still that way today. Christians are hated and persecuted by the children of this world. We live in the world, but we are not of the world. We do not agree with the ways of the world. We reprove the children of the world. We show them their sins and the error of their ways. We call them to repentance and we speak to them of the Lord Jesus as their only Savior. For this, we are hated by the children of the world.
However, Jesus reminds us that He was hated before we were. He adds the words, “A servant is not greater than his master.” He, our Master, was hated and persecuted, and we, His servants, can expect the same. Remember another word of Jesus, “In the world you will have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world,” John 16:33.
Cling to Christ by faith, and demonstrate your faith by love!
“Grant Thou me strength to do,
With ready heart and willing,
Whate’er Thou shalt command,
My calling here fulfilling;
To do it when I ought,
With all my might, and bless
The work I thus have wrought,
For Thou must give success.
Oh, let me never speak
What bounds of truth exceedeth;
Grant that no idle word
From out my mouth proceedeth.
And then, when in my place,
I must and ought to speak,
My words grant pow’r and grace,
Lest I offend the weak.” Amen.