As Jesus was sending out His disciples to teach the lost house of Israel He said: “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 10:22). John records Jesus telling His followers: “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause” (John 15:18-25). Based upon the aforementioned scriptures, I stand amazed at how many Christians today are loved by those who are outside of Christ. Jesus and His followers in the New Testament were not loved by people of the world or apostate disciples. In one of Jesus’ prayers to the Father He said this of His disciples: “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world” (John 17:14). How can it be that the Lord promises the godly that we’ll be persecuted (II Timothy 3:12), hated, and spoken evil against (Matthew 5:10-12); but such is simply not true of many today who call themselves God’s faithful? Have you considered using the way the world and erring Christians look at you as a test of your faithfulness to the Lord? Maybe it’s just too true that even those who appear to be faithful Christians are simply too worried about how others feel about them? Too many who proclaim to be faithful in Christ Jesus are really just politicians (no, this does not just apply to preachers either). They feel living peaceable with all men (Romans 12:18) means fitting in as much as possible. Have you not read that friendship of the world is enmity with God? Have you not read that whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God (James 4:4)? Have you not read that trying to please men makes it impossible to be a servant of Christ (Galatians 1:10)? Have you not read that we are supposed to HATE that which is EVIL and CLEAVE to that which is GOOD (Romans 12:9; cf. Psalms 97:10 and Psalms 119:28). I find it extremely pathetic when those who proclaim to be Christians ask me why I am a hated preacher by so many people. Have you not read that faithful Christians are blessed when men shall hate us, and when they shall separate us from their company, reproach us, and cast out our name as evil, for Jesus’ sake (Luke 6:22). I ask those who ask me the question of why I am hated so much, WHY AREN’T YOU hated so much by those who love not our Lord and His truth? Jesus said: “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets” (Luke 6:26). Are we not supposed to follow the examples of Jesus and the approved examples of the Apostles (I Peter 2:21 and I Corinthians 11:1)? Jesus was hated (John 3:19-21). The rulers of the mid first century tried to kill those who preached the truth (Acts 4-5). They succeeded at times (Acts 7:51ff. and Acts 12:1-2). The Jews spent years trying to kill the Apostle Paul (Acts 21-28). The hatred by the Jews of Paul started just as soon as he began preaching Christ and it never stopped (Acts 9: 23 and I Thessalonians 2:14-16). One of the saddest statements I have ever read comes from the pen of Paul, and I can relate to this statement very heavily: “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved” (II Corinthians 12:15). We have the examples of Christ and the prophets being hated, despised, hunted, and even killed. Why are you following those approved examples of following the Lord without regard for the cost (Luke 14:25-33)? Notice this: “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked” (I John 2:3-6). Jesus walked a lonely walk on this earth. How many are in your company? You cannot find yourself in the company of sin and the Lord at the same time (II Corinthians 6:14-18). There is a big woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil (Isaiah 5:20)! God hates workers of iniquity (Psalms 5:5). How can we claim to be godly when we want to love that which God hates or be loved by that which hates God? One of the most difficult things to do is be hated. Human nature is to fit in, not stand out and be alone. Our minds have to then settle upon whose approval we truly want. In closing, ask yourself if you can relate to God’s people or not. Here’s an example: “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts. I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand: for thou hast filled me with indignation. Why is my pain perpetual, and my wound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether unto me as a liar, and as waters that fail? Therefore thus saith the Lord, If thou return, then will I bring thee again, and thou shalt stand before me: and if thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth: let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them. And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and they shall fight against thee, but they shall not prevail against thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith the Lord. And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible” (Jeremiah 15:16-21). |
| Volume VII ~ Issue XXIX ~ April 15th, 2007 |
Words of Truth Weekly - Online Edition
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What must one do to be saved (Acts 2:37)? Hear and believe the Gospel (Mark 16:15-16 & Romans 10:17),
repent of their sins (Acts 3:19), confess Christ (Acts 8:37), and be baptized (immersed) for the remission of
sins into the church of Christ (Acts 2:38, I Corinthians 12:12-13, and Romans 6:1-6). One must then remain
faithful (Rev. 2:10).
repent of their sins (Acts 3:19), confess Christ (Acts 8:37), and be baptized (immersed) for the remission of
sins into the church of Christ (Acts 2:38, I Corinthians 12:12-13, and Romans 6:1-6). One must then remain
faithful (Rev. 2:10).
| Edited by: Brian A. Yeager |
| “And Ye Shall be Hated of All Men…” By: Brian A. Yeager |
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| Do You Think You Can Be Loved By Sinners and the Lord at the Same Time? |
| Conclusion |