Read John 7:6-13
Why Do You Hate Me?
When the brothers of Jesus mocked him and told him he should go to the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles, Jesus responded, “My time is not yet here.” He knew the religious leaders wanted to kill him and it wasn’t his time yet to give up his life for the people. So he told his brothers, you go because you have no threat of losing your life. But I’m hated because I speak against the evil that’s going on.
Sometime after Jesus’s brothers left for the tabernacle, Jesus went also, but did so secretly. At the festival people we’re talking about Jesus:
1. The religious leaders were watching for him and saying, “Where is he?”
2. Some people in the crowd said, “He is a good man.”
3. Others said, “No, he deceives the people.”
Was there ever a time people were uncomfortable to have you around because of your faith practice? Over the years, I have experienced different responses from different people because of my faith walk:
1. No one has ever wanted to kill me (that I know of).
2. Occasionally someone will say something derogative about Christianity and how they hate Christians.
3. Some have quit going to church because they didn’t want to give up their lifestyle.
4. Then on very rare occasions, I’ll have someone approach me and, in essence, say, “The way you live your life for Jesus makes me feel convicted when I’m around you.”
4. But more often than not, people have respected my position as long as I didn’t expect them to be the same.
2 Timothy 4:1-5 instructs us to correct, rebuke, and encourage fellow Christians who are struggling with their faith and to do so with great patience and careful instruction. The goal is to see them restored back into holiness with God. If someone did that to you would you receive their words in love and repent or would you throw accusations at them for “judging you” or tell them “Who are you to judge me. You’re not perfect either!”
Dear Lord help me be faithful in my walk with you. If people attack me because of my faith, help me respond your way. And if someone confronts me of sin, help me to receive it in love and repent. In Jesus name, amen.
