Rejected by the World

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

An old, country proverb goes like this: You can judge a man’s character by who his enemies are. It’s a spiritual truth as well. The “world” loves its own. When you became a Christ follower, you came “out of this world.” And since you are no longer “of the world,” it hates you [John 15.19].

This shouldn’t take any of you by surprise. The “world” has always been like this. It showed its hostility toward Jesus, you should expect the same. 

Unrighteousness has always hated righteousness. The Apostle John relates the tragic story of Cain and Abel in which Cain killed his “righteous” brother [1 John 3.12-13]. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, accurately summarized the treatment of righteous prophets by Israel who killed the prophets and stoned the ones sent to her [Matthew 23.27]. Peter went so far as to say the reason unbelievers malign and denigrate Christ followers is because they won’t participate in their excessive debauchery [1 Peter 4.4].

Perhaps this hatred is caused by holy living and sound doctrine. The righteousness of a Christ follower is a living rebuke of their sin and a reminder of a coming judgment when all will give an account to God for their lives on earth. 

Have you experienced that? When Jesus spoke for God and exposed the utter unrighteousness of people, He was resented, resisted, and rejected. Christ followers will experience the same. But please remember, you may be rejected by the world, but you are accepted by God. 

Not as Cain, who was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous. Do not marvel, brethren, if the world hates you. 1 John 3:12-13