SCRIPTURE: JOHN 15:19

This is the greatest test for a Christ follower because it requires us to examine what people’s attitudes are towards us. A Christian walking in righteousness cannot be easily accepted by society because the gospel is convicting in nature—it’s not meant to supplement our worldview but to tell us why our worldview is twisted. The popular and loved in society are of the world because they speak and act the same way, and so the world hears them (1 John 4-5). It was prophesied in the Old Testament that Jesus would be hated by His own people (and whoever hates the Son, hates the Father) (John 15:23, 25). In a similar way, our aim as Christians is to walk in the light the way Jesus modeled for us when He fulfilled the law we could not because of our sin. Therefore, if we’re walking in the light, the world will treat us similarly. But take heart for it is written, blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness (Matthew 5:10).

Are you appeasing culture and the current powers of the world? Are you quiet about Christ because you fear that you’ll lose the love of the world?

For Jesus is the vine, we are the branches. There are those who abide and are attached to the vine, then there are those who have fallen away. For those that remain, there is joy (John 15:11).