Daily Devotional For Saturday, October 31, 2026
Good morning Southside! I am following the One Year Chronological Bible reading suggestion and any Bible verses you see highlighted in bold (ex. John 3:16), means it is a link to that verse. All you have to do is click on the reference and it will take you to the verse online. Our daily devotional for today comes from the words of Jesus found in John 15:18-16:4. When you read Jesus’ words here in the Upper Room, this had to be hard for His disciples to hear that disciples of Jesus should expect to be hated.
This had to be a jolt. The Greek text implies that Jesus said, “You will be hated.” Up to this point, they have experienced nothing but praise from the people, adoration and support from the people. Just days earlier had been the Triumphant Entry. Jesus’ life was a mirror of sinlessness, righteousness, holiness, and godliness. This drew the hatred of the religious leaders.
I read a true story told by a missionary about an African chief, who happened to be a woman. She once visited this missionary and saw a mirror hanging on a tree outside the missionary’s cabin. Curious, because she had never seen one, she went to look at it. She saw her reflection in it with its hideous paint and evil features. Seeing herself, she screamed, “Who is that horrible-looking person inside that tree?” The missionary said, “It’s not in the tree. The glass is reflecting your own face.” This African would not believe unless she held the mirror up for herself. She said to the missionary, “I must have the glass. How much will you sell it for?” The Missionary said, “I don’t want to sell it” but the African would not let up. So the missionary finally agreed and gave it to her African woman. She took the mirror. Exclaiming, “I will never have it making faces at me again,” she threw it down and broke it to pieces” (Source: H. A. Ironside, The Gospel of John, pp. 684–685).
Jesus made it clear that the world will hate us because we do not belong to the world and its system of sin and evil. When Christians do not conform to the world, the world will come after us just like they did Jesus and His disciples. Persecution comes in all forms. It is not always physical. It can be very subtle with snide comments or an attitude that conveys, “You’re not one of us.” In verse 20, the word Jesus uses for “persecute” means “to chase like a wild beast.” We may not be experiencing this here in America but there are those around the world who are.
According to Jesus, suffering is the mark of being a Christian. We live in a culture that strives for comfort, not developing the character Christ in our lives. Many in the church want the easy path, not the road less traveled. Some Christians do not want to take up their cross and follow the Lord. Some Christians will compromise just to be accepted by others. They choose to look in the mirror our culture so that what they see reflected back is our culture in them.
Reflection Assignment: When you look in the mirror, what is reflected back to you spiritually? How would you say your life suffers for the Lord who suffered for you? When the Lord and His Word reflects where you need to be more like His character, do you just want to shatter that mirror or thank the Lord for it?
Scripture To Meditate On: 1 John 3:13, “So don’t be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you” (NLT).
Prayer To Pray: “Dear Lord, I want to reflect You in my life and only You. Please forgive me when I reflect my culture. Please forgive me when I fear being hated because of You. If anything is broken, let it be my sinful pride, my sinful attitude and my sinful desire to be accepted. I love You Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”
I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly