Rejection of men
Matthew 10:16 (KJV)
"Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves."
John 15:18–19 (BLB)
"18. If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before you. 19. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world but I chose you out of the world, on account of this, the world hates you."
You are going to find yourself getting into a lot of trouble as a disciple if you don't learn to walk in wisdom. Your own family could hate you, your brethren would suddenly hate you, your closest friends would hate you, even the ones that profess their love for the Lord Jesus every day.
They don't really love God; it's all for show. Love is the trademark of God. Where there's no love, there's no God.
You would be treated as an alien when you begin to identify with Christ. When you stand up to uplift His royal banner, you'd feel alone, deserted. You'd feel lonely, unseen, but they're all watching. Quietly.
The Lord is right there with you, and He's saying, "I understand exactly how you feel, I felt that way too! I came unto my own, my own did not receive me! I laid down my life for my own, but they persecuted me and nailed me on a cross!"
He says:
"They hated me too; don't expect something different. If they called the master Beelzebub, expect something worse!"
Sometimes it's the evil spirits in people that cause them to hate you; other times they are genuinely bitter and spiteful towards you without the help of the devil.
They'd try to spoil your name before people; they'd call you rebellious, disobedient, proud, untrained, without regard for earthly authority. They want you in the mud. The Lord says it's because you are not of this world; He's chosen you out of this world, and they recognize the finger of God upon your life. That's why!
So in terms of conduct, He says, "Be wise, and be harmless." Don't do anything about them. Don't revolt; let them be!
Just be wise...
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