So this is the lesson that God has been teaching me lately... I was offered a promotion and it would seem that a few of my coworkers have begun to target me with some jealous hatred. It is mild really when compared to some of the horrible things that other Christians must endure on the count of their faith. Many people are hated and mistreated because they have chosen to follow Jesus, people are even being martyred for their faith. The truth is this... Jesus Himself looked down from His cross at the very people who were crucifying Him and prayed for God to forgive them. This crowd was full of haters, from the Pharisees to the Roman Guards, from Pilate to Caiaphas. But, Jesus had a type of love within Him that allowed Him to love even the haters of that day... How we need that kind of love today! I see the trials that I face as small and seemingly insignificant when compared to the great pain and suffering that exists in this world today. But God said that not even one sparrow falls to the ground that He doesnt take notice. He cares for you and He cares for me, and He truly wants us to love those who hate and despitefully use us. In John 15, Jesus said... If the world hates you, know that it hated me first. Hatred may not be evident until jealousy arises or until you get something that somebody else really wants. Maybe, for you the hatred became evident when you began to speak out against sins and wickedness among your family or coworkers. Perhaps, right now you live within a space of grace, where there is very little resistance to you and your faith. Wherever we find ourselves today in our walk with Christ, this one thing is most assuredly true... We will face opposition and hatred and we need to be prepared to respond as Jesus would have us to, and not react in the flesh as this world does. I pray that in all of your struggles, God will grant you the grace to respond like Jesus did from His cross... forgive them for they know not what they do.
Posted on: Sat, 15 Nov 2014 20:30:02 +0000
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