“But all these things will they do unto you for My name’s sake, because they know not Him that sent Me” (John 15:21).

Things were rough on the mission field. By and large the missionaries were not welcomed nor were they wanted in the community. For many generations the tribe had followed the customs of their ancestors and worshipped gods of wood and stone. The missionaries slowly made contact and were treated hatefully. It could have been a very discouraging situation except for these several facts. First, the missionaries knew that it was not so much the village people hating them as it was their hatred for Christ. Second, they knew it was the will of the Lord Jesus for them to make contact with this tribal village to share the glorious gospel of the Lord Jesus with them. Do you remember that you are also on a mission field? Though you may not be in a remote tribal village, you serve the Lord Jesus in a similar culture that is steeped in idolatry and hatred for Christ. When you are treated wrongfully for the gospel’s sake, remember this blessed truth. It is not nearly so much that the unsaved hate you as it is that they really hate the Savior to Whom you belong.

For today: If I should suffer a little for the Gospel, I will rejoice greatly in my awesome Savior to Whom I wonderfully belong!