Know Your World

S - John 15:18-19, 21-22, 24-25; 16: 2-3(TLJ): "If the world hates you, remember that they hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as it loves its own people. But I have chosen you to be different from those in the world. So you don't belong to the world, and that is why the world hates you. … They don't know the one who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to the people of the world, they would not be guilty of sin. But now I have spoken to them. So they have no excuse for their sin. … I did things among the people of the world that no one else has ever done. If I had not done those things, they would not be guilty of sin. But they have seen what I did, and still they hate me and my Father. But this happened to make clear the full meaning of what is written in their law: 'They hated me for no reason. '… People will tell you to leave their synagogues and never come back. In fact, the time will come when they will think that killing you would be doing service for God. They will do this because they have not known the Father, and they have not known me."

O - The difference between being "the world" and not being "the world" is never determined by one's religion.  Religion wants us to think that it is the line of demarcation but Jesus says differently.  Religion cannot be the difference because all religion is culture.  It is not necessarily bad it is just that it can never be the kingdom … just like my body can never be my spirit.  Jesus identifies the religious leaders and those who are practicing Jews as "the world." He confirms this when he mentions both "their law" (the Scriptures) and "their synagogues" (places of worship).  Jesus loves all and religion/the world loves only its own. 

A - Jesus did not say when the world hates but if it does because sometimes it will and other times it won't. When it does it is always for the same "reasons". The religious leaders of Jesus day claimed to know God and represent him and yet they refused the one he sent.  This shows me that it is never information, religion or cultural affirmations which determine my actual status.  Relationship with Jesus and his life in me is the only determining factor which distinguishes who we belong to and if one is in the world or not in world.  Jesus will come into any culture and is the friend of sinners.  Religion will have little of the first (meeting people where they are) and none of the second.  Jesus wants into it all … and so my place is to welcome him into it all and to join him there.

P - Lord Jesus,

Today is the day I have to love you back, to welcome you into everything and everyplace and to join you in the work that you and your Father are doing.  Help me to see and live the distinction you make between the world and your kingdom.  I loving admit that it all comes down to your person … you who are the light, life, word and presence of God.  Lord, I do love you back.

Steve