It breaks my heart to consider how many people I have hurt. Only in the past few years have I committed my heart to follow Christ, and the walk has been tenuous. Before that, my life consisted of decades worth of good intentions and failed attempts, with little resolve to do more than get by. Because of the life I lived, many people hate me. They have reason.
Christ, though, was hated without cause. He discusses this with His apostles in John 15. He tells them that they will be hated. It applies to us, also. If we follow Him, we will be hated, as well. After all, the world hated – hates – Him.
If they hate Him and we follow Him, then they will naturally hate us, too.
Our job… My job… For I am speaking to myself… My job is to be sure they hate me because I am living like Christ, and not because I wronged them. In fact, my job is much greater. I must love them who hate me.
That’s hard to do, yet I must.
Fear not, for if the world hates you because you are following Jesus, it is okay; they hated Him first. Reach out to those who hate you and demonstrate His love.
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