Following Jesus Is Not Popular with the World
OPENING PRAYER:
Lord, help me see the opportunities in which I need to stand up for my Christian principles. Amen
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me.” John 15:18-21 NIV
REFLECT:
Following Jesus has become less popular in the world. Voice of the Martyrs lists the top 50 countries where it’s dangerous for people who profess Christ. We support a missionary to China who is from Hong Kong but lives in New Hampshire. It is becoming more and more difficult for him to support his disciples in mainline China. Government officials have raided the house churches and disrupted their internet. So far, they have been able to circumvent these roadblocks, but they are concerned about how long they will continue to have access. Christian organizations we support in India are now running into problems with the government. India was known as a country with religious freedom but that is no longer so. The Hindu government would like to remove any Christian organization that receives funding from outside India.
You can say to yourself these are happening around the world, but we have religious freedom guaranteed by the constitution. Christians are running into barriers here in the United States. We’ve all heard about Jack Phillips’ problem with his bakery and the florist in Washington who has closed her flower shop because they stood up for their Christian principles. College of the Ozarks has refused to make their dormitories co-ed and they are being charged with civil rights violations. Christ’s message has become less and less popular with much of the world as he predicted.
APPLY:
Christ says, “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” We need to be ready to stand up for what we believe about Jesus Christ. None of us is immune to harassment because of our faith walk. As Paul said to Timothy, “Preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience and teaching.”
CLOSING PRAYER:
God, guide me in putting on your armor (Ephesians 6:10-19) so that I will be able to stand firm against all of the strategies of the devil (Ephesians 6:11 NLT). Amen
CONTINUED READING:
John 17:14-16, Luke 6:22-23