John 17:14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
 
Alright, Jesus gave Himself to us. Now because we have accepted the gift of Jesus, the world hates us. There could be a lot said about the degrees of hatred we have felt from this world. We could argue that the more you are hated the more of an authentic Christian you are, but I do not buy into that rationale.
 
The amount of the hatred from this world we feel I believe is dependent on the call that God has on a person’s life. I believe that a mom who is called by God to raise spiritually aware and biblically educated children may not experience the same degree of hatred as someone who is called by God to stand strong in the face of public sin. God decides. Let’s not try to gain approval from others as more Jesus like by the amount of hatred the world has for us.
 
Rather, let’s appreciate the call God has for everyone, as He covers all the bases for His agenda throughout the world. God builds people differently based upon His need in the hour. Suffice to say, this world hates everyone it cannot control.
 
There is something quite wonderful about the advancing of God’s Kingdom. Here is a passage that shows the Devil’s fear and hatred as God’s expression of love moves forward and outward.
 
Acts 17:5-7 But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. 6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, 7 and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.”
 
Tell me you can’t see the people being used like a puppet to stop the advancing of the kingdom of Jesus. The enemy owns this world, and he uses whatever or whoever is available to him to stop the message and the messenger, Jesus!
 
I can almost hear the fear in the Devil’s voice… “They’re here now!”
 
As Jesus is praying in John 17, He says that they (the Apostles) are not of this world. You see, the moment that you believe the message and the messenger, your entire planetary citizenship changes. You are being acted upon by a force far beyond anything that is on this earth. Jesus declares that you are no longer of this world.
 
He proves that by giving you a name that is a higher authority than anything on this earth, His name. You are given the citizenship that Jesus has.
 
Is there any doubt in your mind regarding where home is for Jesus? His home is now your home. Where Jesus lives is a higher place, that is your home. Where Jesus lives, He is sitting and waiting for us to get there.
 
Sometimes when you go out to eat and it is busy, do you ever drop a family member off to go get a table? Well, if you do… check this verse out.
 
Ephesians 2:4-7 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
 
Yep, Jesus is holding a table for all who believe He is the message and the messenger.
 
And our understanding can expand from there to other things. Consider another verse that describes our home in heaven.
 
John 14:2 (NLT) There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you.
 
It is true! Our citizenship is in heaven with Jesus, and the Devil hates that because he was kicked out of heaven. He hates everyone who has a place in heaven where he can no longer be. He is an outcast and you are a family member.
 
Praise God for the revelation of Jesus Christ to us all.
 
Father, thank You for our heavenly citizenship. We thank You with all of our being for the price paid for our lives. We could never pay that price on our own. Jesus paid it all! Praise Your name Jesus! Let us live thankfully! God help us to live out loud our gratitude to you.
 
Blessings,
Pastor D