Scripture to Read: John 15:21–22
Jesus knew His eleven disciples would face some incredibly difficult days once He ascended into heaven. Over the last two thousand years, there have been many followers of Christ who have faced incredibly difficult persecution for their walk with Him. The persecution in the USA is light compared to other parts of the world. Therefore, we must be careful not to lose sight of the fact that many of our brothers and sisters in Christ still face heavy persecution today. We must pray diligently for them, knowing we would desire those same prayers if we were facing life-threatening persecution. Jesus said in John 15:21–22, “But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.” The reason this world persecutes Christians is because they do not know God the Father. People who have no relationship with Christ think they know God and will even say that they love God. They will claim their connection to God through their own definition while denying Christ completely. That is exactly what the religious leaders and many of the Jews did in Jesus’ day. Jesus also said that because He had come and spoken to the Jews, they had no excuse for not knowing Him as God or that God the Father had sent Him. People today have no excuse either since God has given us the complete revelation of His Word and His Spirit.
Challenge & Application
• According to what God taught you today, why do so many Christians face persecution?
• Why were people without excuse in Jesus’ day, and why are they without excuse today for knowing that Jesus is God?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!