The Daily Devotional Podcast

Abide - 11 | John 15: 18-25

• Waypoint Church

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This reflection shows that remaining connected to Jesus sometimes means staying faithful even when following Him brings misunderstanding or rejection. It invites us to consider whether we are more shaped by the desire for approval or by commitment to the values and way of Jesus.

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“May the Lord bless you and keep you — and may His presence guide you this week.”


SPEAKER_01

Today I'm reading John fifteen, verses eighteen through twenty five. If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as one of its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you. Do you remember what I told you? A slave is not greater than the master. Since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you. They will do all of this to you because of me, for they have rejected the one who sent me. They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no excuse for their sin. Anyone who hates me also hates my father. If I hadn't done such miraculous signs among them that no one else could do, they would not be guilty, but as it is, they have seen everything I did, and yet they still hate me and my father.

SPEAKER_00

This fulfills what was written in their scriptures they hated me without cause. No one likes to feel misunderstood. We naturally want acceptance.

SPEAKER_01

We want our lives to make sense to the people around us. Even when we disagree with someone, there's still a desire to be respected, understood, and welcome. Jesus speaks to his disciples about a different reality. If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. These words come immediately after Jesus teaches about love and friendship, and that timing feels important. He's not shifting to a completely new conversation. He's continuing to prepare his disciples for what life will look like as they remain connected to him. Love does not always lead to approval. Faithfulness does not always produce acceptance. The disciples had spent years walking beside Jesus and watching people respond to him in very different ways, some following him with joy, others resisting him, questioning him, rejecting him entirely. Jesus wants them to understand something before that same experience becomes their own. Rejection is not always evidence that something has gone wrong. Sometimes it simply reflects the reality that the values of God's kingdom move in a different direction than the values people naturally pursue. Forgiveness instead of revenge, humility instead of self promotion, surrender instead of control. Following Jesus begins shaping people differently, and not everyone welcomes that difference. Jesus is not teaching his disciples to become argumentative or withdrawn. He's preparing them to remain faithful without becoming discouraged when faithfulness becomes difficult. Abiding is not only learning to stay connected to Jesus in peaceful moments, it's learning to remain with him when staying connected begins carrying a cost.

SPEAKER_00

Before I close in prayer, here's a question to wrestle with Where might I be tempted to seek approval more than faithfulness?

SPEAKER_01

Jesus, help me to remain faithful to you even when it becomes uncomfortable or costly. Give me wisdom, humility, and courage to stay rooted in you rather than being shaped by approval of others.