MONTHLY NEWSLETTER – August 21, 2023
Turning Your Sorrow into Joy
By Gary Wilkerson
Christ’s Promises for Turbulent Times
“These things I command you, so that you will love one another. If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you” (John 15:17-18, ESV).
Jesus spoke these words to his disciples at the Last Supper, when he knew he was about to be taken away and crucified. He made two things clear to them. First, they were to love one another. To do this was an absolute necessity because of the second thing; they would be hated by the world.
Why would the world focus its hatred on Jesus’s followers? He explained, “I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you”(John 15:19).
Christ distinguished between the world’s way of doing things and his way.
As his followers, we are to be different from the world, one which harms, abuses and seeks its own interests.
Jesus calls us to do the opposite, to love, serve and forgive; and we can be sure this will offend a darkened world.
No comments:
Post a Comment