THE STORY OF JESUS: John 15:18-27
“If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.” (John 15:19)
When Jesus refers to ‘the world’, He means sinful humanity in general.
As a whole, sinful humans are characterized by self love and self interest.
When Jesus challenges this ‘worldly way’, He is ridiculed and rejected.
Love your enemy, forgive others, accept the unacceptable, be a servant?
Jesus was perceived as weak and foolish, as was anyone who followed Him.
“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” (John 15:18)
The word ‘hate’ means to renounce one choice in favour of another.
Jesus’ words of selfless love are rejected in favour of loving and serving self.
If we sacrificed and served like Jesus did, many would think we were crazy too.
Still today, by His Spirit, Jesus asks us to choose between the two.
Living selflessly for others – the God-like (or godly) way.
Living selfishly for ourselves – the world-like (or worldly) way.
If you had to choose one of these as the GOAL and THEME of your life…
Which one would you choose, which one would you renounce?
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, I admire Your selfless love, I admit that it is the superior way to live. But I’m still caught by the impulse of selfishness. My goal is selflessness, but I need Your help to get there!
We are not of this world.
We are in this world but not of this world for the world is hostile to Jesus. This world calls good evil and evil good. If we love Jesus that draws us to do good. A friend of Christ is not a friend of the world. I need to put Christ Jesus first in all things and this is a possibility when I am Spirit lead.
Today is a TGIF day – Today God Is First – as He needs to be everyday in my living for Jesus.
Living for Jesus a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.
O Jesus, Lord and Savior,
I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy [redemption],*
Didst give Thyself for me;
I own no other Master,
My heart shall be Thy throne,
My life I give, henceforth to live,
O Christ, for Thee alone.