Holiness and righteousness often trigger hate in people who do not want to walk that way and who are uncomfortable in its presence. Strange isn’t it? Cain hated his righteous brother (I John 3:12). The world crucified the holy and righteous Christ. Understand that this hate can come at you from some surprising sources. The world turns against those not of the world. Do not let it turn you aside from the pursuit of holiness and righteousness. Do not stop loving those who have rejected you.
“If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave is not greater than the master.’ Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you.” John 15:18-20 (NLT)
