Hatred

 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
John 17:14 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.17.14.ESV

How to lose friends and alienate people? Tell them you're a Christian. They'll assume you're homophobic and out of touch.

Naturally we crave popularity. Jesus warns us that to follow Him is to take the road less travelled. There's no point hankering after the road not taken.

If our main concern in life is acceptance by the world, we won't come to Jesus. What really matters is that we'll be justified by God. When He does so however, we make an enemy of the world.

Jesus urges us to realise the reality of who we are in Him. If we belong to Him, we no longer belong to the world. No wonder it hates us- it murdered Him!

'Lord God, thank You for the reality check. Please deliver us from fear of others and craving for acceptance by them. We praise You for justifying us in Christ, in whose name we pray, amen'

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