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Short Sermon #40: DO PEOPLE HATE YOU? - Top free devotionals online

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That's why the world hates you." - John 15 Verses 18-19 (NIV)

That's why the world hates you. How true!

Every Christian needs to appreciate this. If you hold on to the teachings of Jesus Christ, the world will hate you, even if you haven't done anybody any harm. It will hate you simply because you would no longer be its own.

People around you will consider you strange. You will be hated even by people who ordinarily should not have anything to do with you. How amazing!

People will talk negatively about you. "He has lost his mind," they will claim, without even a hint of doubt regarding their own condition. 

Jesus said, "...keep in mind that they hated me first." This is what emboldens me; it should embolden you too. Just be sure that you do not hate or hurt anybody. In that case, you will be able to speak like Jesus, "They hated me without reason." - John 15:25 (NIV)

"If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also'" Jesus warned (See John 15:20 (NIV)). Despite this, Jesus fought the fight of faith right to the end. So should you!
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