Don't kill the Messenger

"So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth?" (Galatians 4:16)

Jesus said that "the world" would hate me because of Him (Matthew 10:20) Sometimes that's a really hard pill to swallow, but then I remember what else he said.

"If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you." (John 15:18-19)

I don't mean the antithesis of Love: total indifference. I mean overt ignorance that pays you mind expressly to cause you harm of some kind. I guess all I'm saying is I understand tangibly sometimes why Jesus was called "A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief" (Isaiah 53:3) and it's not always so easy to just let that slide off my back.

 It makes me sad that Truth and Love are so vehemently rejected, and I am not ashamed of that because it made/makes Him sad too. What brings me back to Joy and to my right mind is this:

"Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me." (Matthew 5:11)

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." (John 14:27)

 His Love overcomes the world and that is comfort. My spirit knows it and agrees with it and that is assurance. It means no darkness can overcome Him and that is nothing short of Hope and Victory.

"These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world-our faith." (1 John 5:4)