“If the world hates you, know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” John 15:18-19
“Whoever hates Me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both Me and my Father. But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated Me without a cause.’” John 15:23-25
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1 John 2:15
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. 1 John 3:1
In the court of heaven where are you standing? What does it mean to stand on the side of the ‘world’ rather than on the side of God? Are there costs aligned to standing on God’s side? What price did the first disciples pay standing on the side of God declaring Jesus as His Son? What was the ‘cup’ that they had to drink? (Matthew 20:22-23)
Are you susceptible to being a ‘person pleaser’ rather than a focusing on what the Holy Spirit is asking you to do? Was Jesus ‘nice’? Or did He just do what the Father wanted Him to do? Did Jesus speak ‘nicely’ of the spiritual leaders around Him?
Is it okay to be hated? Or do you cringe at that question? We need to have (spiritual) eyes to see and (spiritual) ears to hear. Have you asked God to increase your ability to do so? The ‘invisible’ realms (to us) are ‘more’ real than we know. Do we shine bright to those who surround us in the invisible realm? Should we even care? What do the enemies of God that lurk in those invisible realms see when they look at you? Can we hide our ‘dark’ inward side (iniquities and sins) from them? Can they actually see the indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit within us? Do you think our ‘spiritual’ brightness has to do with how much we have allowed the Holy Spirit to permeate every part of our body, soul, and spirit? Could that brightness of the Holy Spirit within us agitate those ‘dark’ spirits that seek to dim His work within us? Consider how they must hate that light of God. Anyone in league with them or who are under their ‘spell’ would obviously hate that Light within us, and then hate us as well.
You who are filled with His Light – how can you love the dark? One must work to diminish the light to love the dark.
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
How do we increase His Light within us? Surrender to Him. Not just once …but in every moment you face. Be present in each moment – with a heart posture of surrendering to Jesus, and being attentive to the Voice of the Holy Spirit in your mind throughout your entire day. Agree with His suggestions and choices … being grateful and giving Him praise for the steps you are encountering… even if they seem difficult.
Surrender and agree with Him. Focus on what He would have you do. Listen to His Holy Spirit. Be attentive to His will. Stay present with Him… in EVERYTHING, EVERYWHERE, and with EVERYONE you encounter today.
Let His Light shine bright in you!