Dear Explorer,
Read John 15:17-21
Remember, this is the only command that Jesus gives His followers.
Here He says give love instead of hate but know that you will be hated back. That contrasts to what mothers have told their kids for years: "If you play nice, the other kids will play nice with you." "If you share, they will share, too, and everyone will be happy." "Smile and the world will smile with you."
Not exactly. Following Jesus means loving in the midst of hate. Loving when it hurts to love. And most of all loving when it costs dearly. If you thought that following Jesus would be a rose garden, well, here's the thorns.
When you decide to invite Jesus into your life -- you become filled with the Holy Spirit. You find incredible peace, love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness and self under control -- all fruits that the Holy Spirit brings into your life. There's nothing to describe the transformation that takes place on the inside! It's fantastic, wonderful, awesome, and so incredibly fabulous. Nope – there's no words to describe it.
But it won't take but a few hours before you encounter someone who is empty. They only have a God-shaped vacuum at their core. And he/she won't understand the fabulous things that are happening to you. Try as you might to convince them that your only desire is for them to taste the wonderful things that Jesus offers -- they will either run like crazy or turn against you. Okay -- some will gladly hear your message of joy -- but most will run or turn. Why? Hanging around you reminds them that they feel empty. It's not your behavior or words, it's just that you aren't the same as you were before – and that bugs them. It's just the way it is.
Now, what happens when you put a swan in a duck pond?
The ducks will call the swan ugly – according to Hans Christian Andersen!
What happens when you put a jelly-filled doughnut on the plate with doughnuts that are empty in the middle?
Nothing! Gotcha!
But God's Word says that when you put a person who is "filled" with Jesus into a world of people who are "empty", the "empties" will hate the "filled." Why?
Because we make them realize they are empty. They feel uncomfortable and often angry.
Jesus says they will hate you -- that's strong words.
Here in America, we talk about our friends "not understanding" our new life -- but most of us are not physically hated. In many places, becoming filled with Jesus in a world of empty people marks you for severe persecution and even death. Family, friends, employers, neighbors all reject you and essentially kick you out of their lives. Some flee to America for protection and to start over, but many stay in their own surroundings and live with the persecution or die standing for their newfound faith.
That poses an interesting question: Would you be willing to invite Jesus into your life if it meant the loss of everything you currently hold dear?