Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you. We
WEEK 34
EXPERIENCING ALL THAT GOD
WOULD HAVE FOR US
1 JOHN 3:13-24
Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.
This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. The one who keeps His commandments
abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
IT IS A WONDER, our God, that You have asked us
to proclaim the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ to the world, knowing that the world hates us. Because we have passed out of death into life,
because we love the brethren, and because we belong to You, the world hates us and yet it is the very world we are to reach. We know then that if we are to reach them,
it is Your work and not ours— Your transforming power that will do the job— so we call upon You as we endeavor faithfully
to live to the honor of Christ and proclaim His gospel.
Thank You, Father, that You gave the Lord Jesus
to be our great High Priest. He has given us confidence to enter the holy place
by a new and living way
which He inaugurated for us through the veil.1
We stand in utter awe before Christ's glory. We praise Him for the infinite value of His sacrifice,
the wonderful example of His humility, the tenderness of His grace toward us, and the blessed assurance we gain by His ongoing intercession
before Your throne.
We are profoundly indebted
for the grace You pour out upon us at all times. It encourages us not to grow weary in our trials. It calms our fears.
It removes our guilt. It unfetters us from shame. It strengthens us in our infirmities. It teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires
and to live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing
of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us
to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people
for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.2
Thank You that this grace
restores, leads, guards, supplies, and strengthens us. It also encourages our hope in a world of difficulty. Although once poor we are now rich,
once bound we are now free, once defeated we are now triumphant. Our duties call for more grace than we possess,
but not more than is found in You. We know that in Christ we "have been made complete"
and that "in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form."3
How grateful we are that in Him You give us grace upon grace,
cover every sin, and forgive every iniquity!
Help us, dear Lord, to experience all You would have for us—
whether prosperity or adversity, loss or gain, darkness or light, sickness or health, blessing or suffering. May we follow joyfully wherever Christ leads us,
knowing Your providence is at work in it all, Your purposes will be fulfilled, and Your grace is always sufficient.
In that confidence we come before Your throne
to offer these petitions in the exalted name of Christ. Amen.
1. Hebrews 10:19-20 2. Titus 2:12-14 3. Colossians 2:9-10