One Audience

“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 15:18-19

I have to be reminded that the things of this world may rub me wrong because I don’t live as the world does, but try to live as Christ has called me and that is oftentimes in direct opposition of each other.  Only God’s view of us and our life should matter. We are called to live only for Him and differently than this self-centered world.  All of us have experienced some kind of persecution for something we did, or did not stand up for.  As followers of Jesus, we are told to expect this as we remember that this is not our home.  If Christ, who loved all people, was persecuted while here on earth, how much more will we be persecuted?  We must remember, however; that we are called to meet hate with love and to turn the other cheek.  Followers of Jesus do not, or should not show hate for hate, but instead show love and have a prayerful heart.  A life and faith built on what Jesus Christ has done for you will look differently than a life and faith based on the world’s standards.  Can people tell where your life and faith lie?  Do you live differently than the unbelieving world?  Have you been mocked, or criticized for your beliefs?  The world should see something different in you.  That fact that I live in the United States means I can worship and show my faith openly, but in places all over the world Christians lose families, jobs and sometimes even their life for their faith.  Would you be willing to love and follow Christ through that kind of persecution?  I have often asked myself what it would take for me to denounce my faith in Jesus Christ.  Is my faith strong enough to withstand the loss of my health, job, or heaven forbid, a child?  I sure hope so.  I pray I have built my trust and faith so secure that nothing, even debilitating loss, or the hatred and persecution of this world, would have me turn away.  Let us live differently, expect persecution and trouble, but hold steady and unwavering from our hope and faith in Jesus Christ.  Let us remember that He will make all things right and new in the end.  Let us live for an audience of one. ~ Amen