Is the World Worthy Of You? You Should Hope Not.

John 15:18-20; Hebrews 12:1-3

Join God's army because although you will lose some battles He has promised that you will win the war.

Soul Food

“If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well.”

– John 15:18-20

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

– Hebrews 12:1-3

Soul Search

• If you assess yourself with respect to being “of the world” according to Jesus’s words, just how much “of the world” are you?
  How much of “the world” is in you?

• One test of how much you fit into the world is opposition to you by sinners, or those who are not followers of Jesus.
  Do you face opposition because of your belief in Jesus and in God’s Word, the Bible?

• What lengths do you go to to avoid the scorn and mocking of people who don’t believe in Jesus or the Bible?
  Do you go quiet about your Christian beliefs?
  Do you also enter into coarse joking and ungodly behavior in opposition to your Christian beliefs in order to “fit in” with your non-Christian friends and acquaintances?
  Write down your thoughts about these questions.

Soul Moves

• Make a list of behaviors and/or vocabulary that you believe makes you more “of the world” than it does a follower of Jesus.
  Ask God to help you be as honest as you can be about what shows up on that list.

• Being hated and persecuted is something we all instinctively try to run away from.
  Ask God to give you His Holy Spirit and His strength and courage to take stands/positions that might result in persecution and hatred.

• Ask God to help you be bold and courageous in standing up with and for your Christian beliefs and views.
  Ask Him to convict you when you’re tempted to hide His light inside you in order to fit in with those who don’t follow Him and share that light.