Bullied

If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you"- John 15:18-19 (NIV).

We should anticipate being "bullied" by the world if we are in Christ. The more we reflect the Lord Jesus, the more resistance we will encounter in this world. Count it a blessing, brothers and sisters, a symbol of truth, that the world sees Christ in you. It sounds absurd that we would feel joy, even relief, to know the world hates us. Jesus foretold that the world would hate us because of Him, but if we stand firm to the end we will be saved (Matthew 10:22). The temptation to follow the ways of this world, to feel accepted, will cause many to fall away and abandon their faith as time draws nearer to Jesus' return (1 Timothy 4:1). That's why the Apostle Paul encouraged us to be on our guard; stand firm in our faith; be courageous; be strong...to the end (1 Corinthians 16:13). You do not belong to this world, brothers and sisters, because Jesus chose you out of this world.