**Daily Devotional** **August 3** *20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not him that sent me. - John 15:20-21 (KJV)* Jesus was talking with His disciples the day before His crucifixion, and was warning them that they would be persecuted, as He was. This is true of all born again believers, that are trying to lead a holy life, and walking after the Spirit and not the flesh (Romans 8:4), as they will suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12). If you think that you will not suffer any persecution, because you are following God’s leading in your life, then you will experience a sick heart, as hope deferred makes the heart sick (Proverbs 13:12). The reason we are persecuted, when we follow Jesus, is that the world, led by Satan, hates the light that we shine, as it makes their darkness (sin) to be exposed, and they are not really after us, but after Jesus that lives through us. The world will always be at odds with Christians, until Jesus comes again and judges it (Revelation 14:7), and during these last times, it will only get worse, as Christians are being discriminated against now. As this verse says, the world doesn’t know Christ, or us Christians, because it does not know the Father in heaven. All the unsaved people really understand, is that when they are around a Christian, who is shinning Christ’s light, it brings condemnation upon them, and they strike out at us for that reason. Don’t ever take it personal as the world doesn’t hate Christians, it hates whom we represent (Luke 6:22-23). If you are not being persecuted, you might want to be sure you are truly born again, and living for Jesus (Romans 12:1). Thank you Lord for giving us your strength to endure the persecution. Devotional by Pastor Joe W. Green, www.infinite-faith.com