My Best Testimony Is Not What I Say But What The World Sees

If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father as well. - John 15:18-22

The world will tolerate Christians as long as Christians keep the Truth to themselves. Jesus was telling his disciples, and every Believer since then, to not expect the world to embrace you or the Truth you represent.

Do you ever feel like hiding your light (your faith) under a basket to avoid rejection? It's a natural response. Like being in school and being picked on because you are different. The clothes you wear, the way you talk, the way you look. But in this case - it is because you are eternally different.  Being different is not really the problem like when you were a child - it is that now your difference reminds other people of their sin. It is the presence of the Spirit of God in you. Your embracing the Word of Truth as compared to the truth the world embraces. Sinful man does not like that. Just like you didn't like it at one time in your own life. Their animosity is not necessarily because of what you say but because that you are spiritually different from the majority of the people on this planet.

Things are morally corrupt in many if not most countries today. Certainly times have been bad before but not quite so blatant as today. People are proudly wearing their sins on their sleeves. But the darker the night the brighter our light. 

People need to see Jesus - and you my friend may be the only Jesus they will ever see. Remember that - like you once were - they have no capacity for living a righteous life apart from being born again.

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus - Ephesians 2:1-6

And what happened to us can happen to them but - 

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. - Romans 10:14-17

The manifestation of Christ in you is the loudest sermon most people will ever hear. 

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone