AUG 30

John 15:24-25
Memorise John 15:19
“Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.”

As sinful people, we are always very quick to defend our own names. Whenever we are accused of something, we would immediately jump to our own defence, or try to come up with justifications for our actions or even push the blame to someone else. Yet we know that, most of the time, our accusers are justified to a certain extent. There is likely to be some truth in what they say about us, and seldom are we entirely blameless.

For Christ, it was different. So hated was He by His enemies, yet so entirely unjustified were they in their hatred. Today’s passage tells us that Christ was hated because of the works which He had performed. What works were these? Take a brief look through the gospels, and you will see that Christ never did anything to deserve such hatred and ill will. Rather, His life was characterized by innumerable marvelous miracles and wondrous works. He brought sight to the blind and life to the dead, and not just physically but also spiritually. But what did He receive in return? He was accused of blasphemy, captured and tried, and sentenced to death! Yet, He continued to show great compassion and love to even His enemies. Even with His dying breath, He showed mercy and compassion, and prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”. Amazing love!

How about you? Just as it was prophesied that Christ would be hated without a cause (Psalm 35:19), likewise Christ has told His disciples that the world would surely hate those who follow the Lord, simply because of the One whom they follow (John 15:19). Indeed, the world is not a friend of Christians. How do you react when you encounter such people who would hate you simply because you are a Christian? The human nature in us would cause us to want to treat these people as badly as they treat us. We would find it difficult to love such people or to care for their souls. Yet, Christ’s perfect example in how He regarded His enemies should motivate us to a greater love and compassion for such people. When we see their strong hatred for Christians, all the more so, we realise that they are in need of salvation grace. Dear teen, may you thus seek to follow the example of Christ and to love those who hate you without cause.

Thought: When hated without cause, love without condition.
Prayer: Lord, help me to love even those who hate me.