December 15, 2010
WHAT TRULY MAKES YOU HAPPY?
John 15:18-27
Sally Michael
Central Truth
God has given us a way to experience love and true happiness through Him. Everything of this world is fleeting, and we have been given an opportunity to choose Jesus. The world that we live in does not support the truth we get from knowing Christ.
Key Verse | John 15:19
If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. (John 15:19)
John 15:18-27
The Hatred of the World
18 If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, 1 15:22 Greek they would not have sin; also verse 24 but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: ‘They hated me without a cause.’
26 But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.
Dive Deeper | John 15:18-27
Over the past few years, I have been blessed by the encouragement of true friends who have helped me understand that my plan and the plan God has for my life are quite different. For this I am so grateful and am on fire to share what the Lord is doing in me!
Through reflecting on Jeremiah 29:11, I am starting to understand that God's plan is perfect, and He wants me to trust Him with it all: my marriage, friendships, career, money, children, heart, body, all of it! I have spent so much of my life "of this world," working toward how much I could have and my own happiness. I am finally seeing my sin and hate it enough to want to change and be transformed into the person He wants me to be, not what this world looks for.
This is radical compared to the way I have lived my life, but I know now the Lord has chosen me to live a life with a higher standard . . . HIS. This is challenging because of my sinful nature. James 5:16 says, "Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much."
Thank you, Jesus, for the freedom to be set free from this world. It is a daily surrender, and I struggle. But I know now that I have been charged with a life of serving and loving others and worshiping You in this world!
What a great and perfect standard for me to try to live by. Instead of living for others, not meeting expectations, and feeling like there is more to life than this, I now seek His face for guidance and acceptance each day! It is not enough to look up and ask; you must listen and receive. The Lord wants so much more for us, but we have to be intentional in pursuing Him, not this world.
Discussion Questions
1. What is your priority today? Have you asked God for His guidance and wisdom?
2. When you think of your life today, do you think God is pleased with how you spend your time and money?
3. If you were to die tonight and God asked you, "Why should I let you into heaven?," what would you say?
4. What does "pursuing God" look like in your life?
FAMILY DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Have you ever experienced someone not liking you or making fun of you because you love Jesus or obey His commands?
2. What does He tell us in verse 21 will happen?
3. Knowing that Jesus said it would happen and that He understands what it is like, how does this make you feel?
4. How will this help you the next time someone is being mean because you are obeying God?