“The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” 1 John 3:1 NIV
The great tragedy of those in this world is that they do not know God. In John 1:11 we read, “He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.” John undoubtedly has that verse in mind at the end of 1 John 3:1. Jesus warned His disciples that they would suffer persecution, especially from the religious crowd. Believing in Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord distinguishes us from the world. One of the distinguishing marks of God’s children is that they know Him. Jesus said in John 17:3, “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” If we have experienced God’s great love as shown at the cross, we are a child of God and know Him. If we know God’s love in Jesus Christ, we are an alien in this evil world that has rejected Christ. We should not expect to be popular in the world’s eyes. When we go out into the world, we should not go out to join them. Rather, go as Jesus did, to seek and to save the lost. He attended the gatherings of sinners, but not to join them in their frivolous revelry. He went as the Great Physician to heal their terminally ill souls. Can we honestly say, “The world does not know me”? Can you truly say, “I am a stranger to this world”? If we cannot answer those questions affirmatively, we had better examine how well we know and experience the Father’s great love. If we know His love and we are His child, we will be distinguished from this evil world that rejects His love.
PRAYER THOUGHT
Father, may I be distinguished from the world by my love for You.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father, as we go out into the world, may we go as Jesus did, to seek and to save the lost. He attended the gatherings of sinners, but not to join them in their frivolous revelry. He went as the Great Physician to heal their terminally ill souls. By Your Holy Spirit, may we do the same. AMEN
I.B.R.A. Readings
1 Chronicles 4:1-10
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