ESOCS Devotional 16 December 2021
TEXT: JOHN 7:1-13
MEMORY VERSE:
“The world cannot hate you, but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil” (John 7:7 KJV).
When Jesus spoke to his brothers in John 7:5, they did not believe in Him. They were of the world. The world does not hate its own. Our memory verse for today’s lesson refers to “the world” as people who are hostile to Christ and to Christ’s followers; and “hate” means to detest, denounce.
Yes, the world hates Jesus. When Jesus spoke to his brothers, He said, “The world cannot hate you, but me it hateth because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil” (John 7:3-5, 7). Examples of evil deeds that Jesus pointed out to His adversaries include unbelief and hypocrisy.
Every Christian has endured times when we have been hated, when we have faced the scorn, the fists, or the swords of those opposed to God. We who put our faith in Jesus agree to bear the cross of Jesus. That cross comes with inevitable suffering and shame. We who follow a hated Saviour cannot be surprised when we experience a measure of His suffering, when we bear a measure of His shame. Why is it that we should not be surprised when the world turns against us? A perfect example is the story of two brothers –Cain and Abel. Cain hated Abel. Cain murdered Abel “because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous.” Abel’s goodness exposed Cain’s badness. Abel’s righteousness convicted Cain of his unrighteousness. Abel’s love for God silently declared Cain’s disregard. Cain responded with the ultimate manifestation of hatred—he murdered his own brother.
Christian, you must expect to be hated today for the same reason. Your goodness unmasks the badness of the unbelievers around you. Your light illumines their darkness. Your truth exposes their falsehood. Your holiness declares their depravity. Your life stands in judgment of them, it convicts them of their guilt, it shows them who God expects them to be. And all of this is true even though you are so far from perfect, even though so much of the old man remains.
My brethren, the more you love and honour God, the more you expose the evil of those who do not. The more you expose the evil of those who dishonour God, the more they’ll hate you.
- Write down those things that hinder you from hating the world.
- Lord, help me to believe in you and to not be a hypocrite, in Jesus name.
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
FURTHER READING: Matthew 5:43–48; John 15:18–19
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ESOCS Devotional 16 December 2021
