Thoughts for the Day

‘If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world—therefore the world hates you......

‘When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

The passage from John's Gospel above, is part of Jesus' final teaching to his disciples. He warns them the world will be against them, and they will be persecuted. However despite this, once the Advocate (the Holy Spirit) comes, they are to spread his message to the world.

Today, society doesn't hate Christians (in most countries), rather it studiously ignores or ridicules us. The world is too concerned about itself and its need to achieve what it wants to be bothered about us, providing we keep quiet. We live in the "I want society", and the "I deserve society", and we may not be persecuted but taking Jesus' message of love to the world is difficult. It can feel like punching a huge "bubble ball"!

However, Jesus says that the Holy Spirit will help us to 'testify' to him. This legal term refers to someone who will fight on our behalf. The Spirit will teach us how to tell others about the Gospel - the message that Jesus came to re-unite us to God who loves us as His children. Try asking for His help and passing on the Good News to someone this day, even if its only that you go to church. Go on, even the "bubble-ball" might be affected.

Lord Jesus,
Your message is as applicable today
as it was all those years ago
to Your disciples.
We may not be persecuted,
but trying to take Your message of love
to others is still difficult.
Give us the courage to speak
about our experience as a Christian,
and to help change society from within.
Amen.