By: Lisa Wilmore
Scripture: If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you…But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law. They hated me without a cause (John 15:18-19, 25).
My Christian Friends,
Have you ever wondered why people appear to dislike or hate you? You may have done everything within your power and more to be pleasant to others and treat them the way Jesus instructs you to treat them. However, you find yourselves on the negative side of their comments, even though you remain positive toward them.
As point of reference, during my tenure as a teacher, young children would come to me at times, frustrated, hurt and discouraged. They often expressed their disappointments as they felt rejection from peers in which they would like to befriend. In fact, they would make statements such as, “They don’t like me.” “They hate me.” “They don’t want to be my friend.” Undoubtedly, these children had a desire to be liked and loved, but experienced rejection from other children. They wanted to fit in; however, struggled to gain the like and interest of certain groups of youngsters.
Even though these rejected children shared their candy with others, helped them with their homework, invited them to their birthday parties, the desired friendship did not happen. These statements and feelings may be familiar as we reflect on how we as Christians may feel when we are hated by the world.
Interestingly, I sat in the seat of wondering why certain people did not like me. When I would enter a room, it bothered them to the point that they would rather go in another direction than to cross my path. As anyone would, I wondered why?
Remarkably, our encouragement is always found in the Word of God. Jesus declares in His Word that the world would hate us, but they hated Him before they hated us. He also, made it known that, “They hated me without a cause.” In the above noted scripture reading, John highlights Jesus’ continued teachings to the disciples. Jesus warns them of the hatred of the world without a cause. He also lets them know that “because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” So, the world does not hate you for who you are, but whose you are.
