John
7:7 “. . . but it (they) hates Me . . .” (ncv)
What
was the reason that I started this Manna about “hate”? Before I go deeper with this Manna, I want to
share the event that has happened that led me to write this devotion.
On June 3rd, it was a day to
celebrate our 51st anniversary.
We had a nice time eating out at a favorite restaurant with deaf friends
who helped celebrate our anniversary. Tony and I share an order of sirloin
steak, mashed potato, broccoli and salad. The food was so good and we enjoyed
it very much. Then we went home.
The
rest of the afternoon, we spend the day resting and watching hallmark movies.
In the late afternoon, the electricity went out. We waited for a few minutes for electricity
to come back on. After few minutes, I texted
our neighbor and learn he, too had no electricity. I went outside and saw no
electricity in the apartment building. It
was too dark in our apartment so we decided to go out to Dunkin Donut for a
break.
Tony
and I went out to the car and drove toward the end of the entrance alley,
getting ready to go out to the street. There stand a policeman and a front car
rammed toward the tree. I asked the policeman if I could pass by the car. I took a picture and send it out to friends. I
don’t know the details of what actually has happened. It looks like another car
may have sway into the opposite lane that causes the car to avoid front collision
and rammed into the tree instead. This
may cause the electricity to go out.
We
went to Dunkin Donut and here’s what I felt was happening. When we first saw the car crashed onto the
tree, the hood was bend badly, and the right tire was bend. I sensed the hatred of Satan as if he was mad
enough to find something to destroy.
Satan was like a “roaring lion” seeking to whom he could destroy. [Ref: 1Peter 5:8]
As
I was thinking about what had happened, Jesus spoke and said, “It isn’t you
that Satan hates. It is Me he hates.” I
recalled at work many years ago, when someone was giving me a hard time, Jesus
spoke, “It isn’t you they hate. It is
Me, they hate.” It really blew my mind
to understand what’s really behind the scene that we often don’t see.
After
being at Dunkin Donut for a long time, we drove home, but we waited in the car for
about ten minutes before the electricity was finally back on. Because of this experience, I decided to
study John 7:7 and to read the whole chapter.
What was Jesus going through and what made Him say this? John 7 chapter talked about the feast of
tabernacles which means the celebration of Passover.
The
interesting part about Jesus’ brothers who challenged Jesus to reveal Himself
to the world (people) during week of festival. His brothers did not really believe He was the
Messiah (7:41). Jesus said to His brothers that His time was not ready. “The world (people) cannot hate you, but it
is Me, they hate. Why? Because I revealed the works of evil in the heart of
religious people who tried to kill me.” [Ref. John 7:19, 25, 30]
I
decided to find out more about the word, hate. 1: strong dislike 2: something
or someone that is hated. 3: to feel strong dislike toward. Dislike; to hate someone to an extreme
degree. Hate suggests deep dislike and
the wishing of harm to another.
In
comparison between Satan who hated any of the Christians who followed Jesus
closely, and the love of Jesus who loved the world so much that He was willing
to give His life for them. Jesus came
during the middle of the feast and taught (John 7:14). During the few days,
Jesus spoke about Himself and His Father who sent Him.
The
religious leaders argued with Jesus about who He really was and they hated Him for
no reason. John 15:25 quotes, “They hated Me without a cause.” This was
fulfilled by Psalm 35:19 “. . . hate Me without a cause”; Psalm 69:4 “They hate
Me without a cause . . .”; Psalm 109:3 “They compassed Me about also with words
of hatred; and fought against Me without a cause.” It was Satan behind the scene that had
influenced the religious leaders to hate Christ.
What
was their reason for hating Christ? Because Christ revealed the works of evil
in the heart of religious people who tried to kill Him. [Ref. John 7:19, 25, 30]. Have you ever face some people who have hated
you and give you hard time for no reason?
Just remember that Satan is always behind the scene. Because “You are an epistle of Christ” (2Cor.3:3)
Satan hate you for that. Let us take
courage and hear Jesus say . . .
“In the last day, the great day of the feast,
Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and
drink” (John 7:37). Jesus revealed
Himself to the people, the world that He is the Living Water. Jesus invited us to come to Him, the Living
Water. Are you thirsty? Come to Jesus!
Only Jesus can satisfy!
Song: Only Jesus!
Only
Jesus, only Jesus,
Only
He can satisfy;
Every
burden becomes a blessing,
When
I know my Lord is nigh (near).
[Inspiring Choruses]
Dorothy:
What does this mean to me? Awesome to know that Christ does care how we felt
when we are being hated by Satan and some people who gives us a hard time. Christ
has endured it all. Let us pray together
that we might be strong in the Lord and to stand against the attacks of Satan
in every area of our lives. It just
simply prove that we are God’s child.
Dear
Heavenly Father, thank You so much for the inspiring Manna that has truly
touched my heart. I put on the whole
armour of You, heavenly Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit that I might be able
to stand against the fiery darts of Satan.
Thank You for Your Presence that goes with us all the time to stand
against the wiles of the devil. Thank You for the victory over all things in
Jesus name. We love you and worship you
and glorify you in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. God bless you.
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