Tue.'s Devo - Jesus was Good...from the beginning.

Read John 15: 21-27
Jesus is explaining to us the heart of man and preparing us for persecution. The reason the people hated Jesus was that he uncovered their sin by the works he did. He manifested God to them and raised the standard. They had been sailing through life thinking they were good, but Jesus was the embodiment of good and made their good look not-so-good. They couldn't compete and hated him for that. If we walk with God with the help of the Holy Spirit we will do the same thing. Some will be drawn to us and want what we have and others will be jealous and hate us. They hated Jesus for no good reason and they will hate us for the same. When the Holy Spirit, the Comforter came he was the breath of truth and he breathed that truth into us that we might testify of Jesus in truth.
The last verse says that we will be his witnesses because we have been with him from the beginning. "From the beginning" is used 4 times in John. He is talking about from the beginning of time. John 6:64 says that Jesus knew who would betray him and who would believe him from the beginning of time. John 8:44 says that Satan was a murderer from the beginning. But of us in today's reading it says we have been with him from the beginning. Hard to wrap your head around that one because we live in time and God doesn't. But what a comfort. Nothing can take us out of his hand. His hand is mighty to save. Lord, I pray for the ones that have not yet come to know you. Send us out to spread your message of peace, hope, and salvation. Prepare us to endure persecution and hardships for your name sake.