John 15:1-27

Love, Joy, and Hate

The real work of being a Christ follower is to remain in Christ. There are so many distractions. There are so many things that the world wants us to think are important. There is so much that the institutional church wants us to think are important. It’s just as Jesus said to Martha, “Martha, you are busy with so many things but only one thing is important. Mary has chose the best.” If we remain in Christ then we will be fruitful. If we don’t we can no more be fruitful than a branch cut off from the vine.

If we obey His commands we will remain in His love. This does not mean that He will not love us if we don’t obey His commands. His love is not conditional in that way and that is not what He said. He said if we do not obey His commands then we will not remain in His love. It isn’t His love that leaves, but us. When we are rebellious we can’t believe that God still loves us. We don’t want to be about the family of God, the people of God, or the presence of God. It is a cold bitter place where we go. But if we obey His command (remember, love one another) then a wonderful thing happens. Out joy is made complete.

You will be hated. The world hates you because you do not belong to the world. The world doesn’t want you to belong to it because it loves you, but because it is a collector. It collects the dream and efforts and souls of mankind and crushes them like a child playing with bubble wrap. So, it’s really OK that the world hates you. The world hates both the Father and the Son, so you’re in great company. Even better, you did not choose God but He chose you.

So, there it is. The world hates you, but God loves you, and that is pure joy.