baby, who do you love?

from study this morning in John 15

Q: What bothers you the most about these verses?
A: verse 20a, "no servant is greater than his master".

The context is persecution for faith: first of Jesus, then of those that believe in Him.

Not sure if you're aware or not, but Christian persecution worldwide is at an all time high. Incredible suffering for honest, simple, Christ-like faith is going on, yet here in America it seems like a different story.

Seems to me what many American Christians call "persecution for faith" is often nothing more than our let down feelings towards those we expect to agree with us on issues of morality, ethics, faith, etc. Isn't it true that it is impoosibe to do the things of God without Christ? So what are we expecting?

Bravely and honestly reflect on this and ask God: Am I ever truly persecuted for being like Christ? Does persecution happen because I am acting in faith and Christlikeness, or because I am acting in the flesh (self righteoousness; high moral ground)? Do we really try to "make the most of every opportunity"? (cf Galatians 5:13, Gal 6:10).

So, who do you love (cf Mark 12:30, 31)? If we love ourselves more than anything, either persecution will not exist (because we'll avoid it), or it will exiist in a form other than what Jesus means in John 15.

Bless you,