Living with the Tension
SCRIPTURE: “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”
(John 15.18-19)
MAIN POINT: Following Jesus means accepting that our faith will have real-world consequences that we cannot avoid.
Monday morning arrives. You go to work, or school, or the neighborhood gathering. The holidays are over, and regular life resumes. But something is different now—you belong to Christ, and the world notices.
You speak truth in love at work, and suddenly you’re excluded from lunch. You stand firm on God’s design for marriage, and relatives call you judgmental. You prioritize Sunday worship, and other parents question your commitment. These aren’t hypothetical—they’re the daily crosses Christians bear.
Jesus never promised that following Him would be easy or popular. In fact, He guaranteed the opposite. The world hated Him, and it will hate you too. Not because you’re difficult or judgmental, but precisely because you belong to Him. The world loves its own, but you are not your own—you were bought with a price.
But here’s the comfort: when your teenager comes home crying because classmates mocked her faith, God’s promise stands. When your promotion is passed over because you won’t compromise integrity, His Word remains true. When family stops inviting you because you won’t stay silent about the Gospel, Christ has not abandoned you. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1.5).
REFLECTION: The cost of discipleship is real, but it is never more than Jesus is worth. Where are you currently experiencing opposition because of your faith? How can you respond with both conviction and gentleness when faced with hostility?
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, give me courage to stand firm and wisdom to speak truth in love. Remind me that You are with me in every hostile conversation. In Your strong Name, Amen.
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