Walk in the Light

Do not be surprised brothers if the world hates you.

1 John 3:13

In writing his first epistle, John gave us a clear picture of how a believer should behave and act. He also clearly showed how an unbeliever behaves and acts.

A believer will, walk in the light (1:7), confess their sins (1:9), keep His commandments (2:3), abide in Christ (2:6), love his brother (2:9), do the will of God (2:17), not love the world (2:15), not practice sin (3:4), and practice righteousness (3:7). Now look at what John writes after this, “By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.” (3:10) As a believer in Christ, we will not do all of the above perfectly but there will be a desire to live a life that reflects our faith in Jesus.

Then John lands the bombshell on us, “Do not be surprised brothers if the world hates you.” (1 John 3:13 ESV) The reason the world will hate you is because as you walk in the light you will expose their lies and their sin.

Yesterday we celebrated the life of our sister in Christ, Olene Brooks. Her family informed me that the reason that Olene was targeted by her assailant was because she took his children to church at Grace Harvest. Because Olene wanted her grandchildren to walk in the light as she was walking in the light with Christ she was murdered. Olene is with our Lord Jesus Christ now but for us who remain, are you willing to follow Christ even if the world hates you?

Your Shepherd,

Pastor Mark