Don’t be surprised by push back from the world

1 John 3:13 Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you. We learn from today’s verse that we can expect some flack as we love with Jesus. We are going to get push back from the world for the same reason Abel was killed by Cain. Abel’s deeds were righteous, and that really brought out evil, hatred, and murder lurking in Cain’s soul. Abel’s righteousness didn’t cause Cain to feel guilty, shame, and insecurity. He already felt those things because of his deeds. It’s just that Abel’s goodness provided an occasion for the evil to be expressed. John didn’t wanted his readers to think that the Christian’s life of love was going to be a easy road with no conflict and trials. Quite the opposite. Those who live to love with Jesus can expect people who are of the evil one in the world to at the least cancel them, and at the most kill them. John was teaching what he heard from Jesus just after receiving the new commandment to love one another as He loved them. Jesus said, John 15:18-19 “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.” When we live our lives with Jesus, we can know that the hatred we may experience from others isn’t primarily about us, it’s about Jesus. It’s His life and righteousness by which they are convicted. If we continue in His love, we can know God is glorified. This means that we are fulfilling our purpose in life, namely, glorifying God by being most satisfied in His love and will as we live to love with Jesus. We would hope that the people God puts in our paths will receive His love and give Him glory. However, we are not to be surprised if that’s not always the case. How is this encouraging? Jesus also said that we are to rejoice when that happens. “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you” (Matt. 5:11-12). If we experience push back and cancellation from the world, we should rejoice. Because of Him, we suffer, and that means we have a great reward awaiting us in heaven. Now that’s encouraging! So let’s love on with Jesus for His glory and joy as well as our own joy.