John 15:18-27
18 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 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. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 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. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’
26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.
Reflection
The more fully we give ourselves to a life of abiding in Jesus (John 15:1–11), the richer our fellowship will be with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (v. 26). This personal relationship with God strengthens us to share Christ with a broken and hostile world. The more the gospel takes hold in our churches, the more we will be serious about Christ’s disciple-making mission (Matt. 28:18–20). Grace comes to us so that it might flow through us. As we follow Jesus and offer this grace to the world, we should not be surprised at growing opposition or even persecution.
Why does the gospel of grace draw out such violent opposition from both religious and nonreligious segments of society? It is because grace offers to rescue those who cannot save themselves. The gospel sabotages all forms of self-salvation. Our need is so great that it took the death of the Son of God to save people like us. The good news is that Jesus went willingly and gladly to the cross for us.
James 1:19-25
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
Reflection
Since humanity is prone to anger and moral filth, we are desperately in need of God’s Word, which his Spirit plants in us. This implanted Word “is able to save your souls” and empower moral transformation (James 1:21). This transformation occurs in those who hear the Word, see it as a mirror to their souls, remember it, and do what it says (vv. 22–25). Therefore, God is the One who initiates and enables our usefulness and obedience, demonstrating once again that Christian life is created and sustained by the grace of God.
Psalm 17:5
5 My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped.
Those who don’t follow Jesus will not rejoice at the work of Jesus in and through your life. Pray that you and your church family would not waver from the gospel in the face of resistance or persecution from the world. Pray that the suffering and endurance of Christ would comfort and strengthen you as you face trials for your faith.