“If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world—therefore the world hates you.”
Have you ever felt that you didn’t belong, and that you were a long way from home? Sometimes the whole world seems to be against you, and that what you think and believe is at odds with everyone else, including those closest to you. Do you sometimes feel that people don’t understand you, that they don’t have a clue where you’re coming from? Following Christ often brings these feelings of being different. Unbelievers just don’t “get us.” Jesus predicted this when he explained to the Twelve, just how difficult and alienating being a disciple would be. He even used the word “hate.”
Fortunately, I don’t think I’ve been hated for my devotion to Christ, mainly because I have a supportive family and open minded friends. My closest friends are believers, so I’ve never felt animosity from my inner circle. Thanks be to God. But I certainly have felt misunderstood and I’ve certainly felt like a fish out of water for my beliefs. It’s easy to be out of step with those around us. It’s a matter of understanding. Those not touched by God’s grace, who have possibly turned their backs on the divine nudgings that they’ve received, will not be able to fully comprehend the depth of feeling and the all embracing influence that a love of Jesus has on a follower. Suddenly, we are not of this world, we are like an exotic creatures that can be observed but not fully understood.
Let’s face it, Christians are different. They believe things that, to many, are unbelievable, and they love an invisible God. They hated Jesus and put him to death, a death that he welcomed. It’s not impossible that we may at some stage also be on the receiving end of some seriously negative feelings, simply because we follow the Good Shepherd who gave up his life for his sheep. He chose us for this, each and every one of us.
“They think the dancer mad who cannot hear the music.”
Tell Out My Soul 
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