THEY WILL PERSECUTE YOU ALSO / JOHN 15:20

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) John 15:20

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.

Living Out of Sync: Why the World Opposes Christ’s Followers

“Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” — John 15:20

If you have ever felt like an outsider in your own culture, workplace, or even within certain religious circles, you are not alone. In fact, you are exactly where Jesus said you would be.

In John 15, Jesus delivers a sobering reality check to His disciples: the world will oppose those who truly follow Him. The “world”—referring to the ungodly systems, mindsets, and people who stand opposed to God—has historically been an enemy to the truth. From the early prophets to the modern church, faithful believers have consistently faced hatred, rejection, and outright persecution.

The Source of the Friction

True Christians must understand that this opposition is inevitable. The world—including false religious organizations and groups that compromise the gospel—will always resist the principles of God’s kingdom until the very end (James 4:4; Matthew 5:10).

But why is the hostility so intense?

The reason Christians suffer at the hands of the world is simply because they are different.

When you accept Christ, your citizenship changes. You no longer “belong to the world” because Jesus has called you “out of the world” (John 15:19). This shift creates an immediate, unavoidable friction.

A Conflict of Kingdom Values

The values, standards, behaviors, lifestyles, and ultimate goals of a true follower of Jesus are fundamentally in conflict with the ungodly ways of a corrupt society. Consider the contrast:

• The world chases temporary power; Christ calls us to humble service.
• The world promotes self-indulgence; Christ calls us to holy living.
• The world devalues truth for comfort; Christ calls us to uncompromised righteousness.

When you refuse to compromise with ungodly standards and instead “set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Colossians 3:2), your life becomes a mirror. It exposes the darkness around you, and human nature often responds to that exposure with defensiveness and rejection.

Stand Firm, You Are in Good Company

Persecution and rejection are painful, but they are also a sign of identity. When the world opposes you for your faith, it is recognizing Jesus in you. They persecuted the Master, so they will naturally persecute the servants.

Take heart. You do not face the friction alone, and your foreignness to this world simply proves that you are on your way home.

A Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for calling us out of darkness and into Your marvelous light. Lord, the friction of living in this world can be exhausting and heavy. When we face rejection, misunderstanding, or persecution for our faith, remind us of Your words in John 15:20. Keep us anchored in the truth that our identity is found in You, not in the acceptance of this world.

Grant us the courage to stand firm against ungodly standards. Protect our hearts from the temptation to compromise just to fit in. Holy Spirit, help us continually set our minds on things above and fill us with Your peace, knowing that You have already overcome the world.

In Jesus’ powerful name we pray, Amen.

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Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

1. GO AND BEAR FRUIT / JOHN 15:16
2. REMAIN IN MY LOVE / JOHN 15:9-10
3. ASK WHATEVER YOU WISH / JOHN 15:7
4. LIKE A BRANCH THAT IS THROWN AWAY / JOHN 15:6
5. REMAIN IN ME / JOHN 15:4
6. EVERY BRANCH / JOHN 15:2
7. I AM THE TRUE VINE / JOHN 15:1
8. HOLY SPIRIT / JOHN 14:26
9. HE WHO DOES NOT LOVE ME / JOHN 14:24
10. WE WILL … MAKE OUR HOME WITH HIM / JOHN 14:23
11. WHOEVER HAS MY COMMANDS / JOHN 14:21
12. I WILL COME TO YOU / JOHN 14:18
13. THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH – WITH YOU AND WILL BE IN YOU / JOHN 14:17
14. I WILL ASK THE FATHER – COUNSELOR / JOHN 14:16
15. IF YOU LOVE ME YOU WILL OBEY / JOHN 14:15
16. ASK IN MY NAME / JOHN 14:13
17. GREATER THINGS / JOHN 14:12
18. I AM THE WAY AND THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE / JOHN 14:6
19. I WILL COME BACK / JOHN 14:3
20. MY FATHER’S HOUSE / JOHN 14:1-4
21. KNOW THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES / JOHN 13:35
22. LOVE ONE ANOTHER / JOHN 13:34
23. PIECE OF BREAD / JOHN 13:26
24. AT A LOSS TO KNOW WHICH OF THEM HE MEANT / JOHN 13:22
25. WASH ONE ANOTHER’S FEET / JOHN 13:14
26. UNLESS I WASH YOU / JOHN 13:8
27. WASH HIS DISCIPLES FEET / JOHN 13:5
28. ETERNAL LIFE / JOHN 12:50
29. LOVED PRAISE FROM MEN / JOHN 12:42-43
30. THEY COULD NOT BELIEVE / JOHN 12:39-40
31. DRAW ALL MEN TO MYSELF / JOHN 12:32
32. PRINCE OF THIS WORLD WILL BE DRIVEN OUT / JOHN 12:31
33. WHOEVER SERVES ME / JOHN 12:26
34. HATES HIS LIFE IN THIS WORLD / JOHN 12:25
35. SON OF MAN GLORIFIED / JOHN 12:23-24
36. SHOUTING HOSANNA / JOHN 12:13
37. THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY / JOHN 12:12
38. MARY POURED IT ON JESUS’ FEET / JOHN 12:3
39. FOR THE SCATTERED CHILDREN OF GOD / JOHN 11:51-52
40. THE DEAD MAN CAME OUT / JOHN 11:44
41. JESUS WEPT / JOHN 11:35
42. DEEPLY MOVED IN SPIRIT / JOHN 11:33
43. I BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE THE CHRIST / JOHN 11:27
44. I AM THE RESURRECTION / JOHN 11:25-26
45. STAYED WHERE HE WAS TWO MORE DAYS / JOHN 11:6
46. JESUS LOVED MARTHA AND HER SISTER AND LAZARUS / JOHN 11:5
47. SICKNESS FOR GOD’S GLORY / JOHN 11:4
48. YOU ARE GODS? / JOHN 10:34
49. THEY SHALL NEVER PERISH / JOHN 10:28
50. MY SHEEP LISTEN TO MY VOICE / JOHN 10:27
51. I KNOW MY SHEEP / JOHN 10:14-15
52. I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD / JOHN 10:11
53. THE THIEF COMES … I HAVE COME / JOHN 10:10
54. I AM THE GATE / JOHN 10:9
55. JESUS THE GOOD SHEPHERD / JOHN 10:1
56. THOSE WHO SEE WILL BECOME BLIND / JOHN 9:39
57. THEY THREW HIM OUT / JOHN 9:34
58. WORK OF GOD MIGHT BE DISPLAYED / JOHN 9:3
59. BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS BORN, I AM / JOHN 8:58
60. WILL NEVER SEE DEATH / JOHN 8:51
61. HE IS A LIAR AND THE FATHER OF LIES / JOHN 8:44
62. IF GOD WERE YOUR FATHER / JOHN 8:42
63. YOU WILL BE FREE INDEED / JOHN 8:36
64. EVERYONE WHO SINS / JOHN 8:34
65. THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE / JOHN 8:32
66. IF YOU HOLD TO MY TEACHING / JOHN 8:31
67. I PASS JUDGMENT ON NO ONE / JOHN 8:15
68. I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD / JOHN 8:12
69. NEITHER DO I CONDEMN YOU / JOHN 8:11
70. IF ANY ONE OF YOU IS WITHOUT SIN / JOHN 8:7
71. JESUS HAD NOT YET BEEN GLORIFIED / JOHN 7:39
72. AS THE SCRIPTURE HAS SAID – STREAMS OF LIVING WATER / JOHN 7:38
73. GAIN HONOR FOR HIMSELF / JOHN 7:18
74. IF ANYONE CHOOSES TO DO GOD’S WILL / JOHN 7:17
75. IT HATES ME / JOHN 7:6-7
76. FEAST OF TABERNACLES / JOHN 7:2-3
77. JESUS HAD KNOWN FROM THE BEGINNING / JOHN 6:64
78. EATS MY FLESH AND DRINKS MY BLOOD / JOHN 6:54
79. THE FATHER … DRAWS HIM / JOHN 6:44
80. MY FATHER’S WILL / JOHN 6:40
81. I WILL NEVER DRIVE AWAY / JOHN 6:37
82. I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE / JOHN 6:35
83. DON’T BE AFRAID / JOHN 6:20
84. JESUS PRAYS ALONE / JOHN 6:15
85. THE FEEDING OF THE FIVE THOUSAND /JOHN 6:7
86. MIRACLES / JOHN 6:1-2
87. DO NOT BELIEVE WHAT HE WROTE / JOHN 5:47
88. ACCEPT PRAISE FROM ONE ANOTHER / JOHN 5:44
89. YOU DILIGENTLY STUDY / JOHN 5:39-40
90. YOU HAVE SENT JOHN / John 5:33
91. THOSE WHO HAVE DONE GOOD – RISE TO LIVE – THOSE WHO HAVE DONE EVIL / JOHN 5:29
92. HAS GRANTED THE SON TO HAVE LIFE IN HIMSELF / JOHN 5:26
93. HEARS … BELIEVES / JOHN 5:24
94. MAKING HIMSELF EQUAL WITH GOD / JOHN 5:18-24
95. PERSECUTED HIM / JOHN 5:16
96. STOP SINNING / JOHN 5:14
97. THE MAN WAS CURED / JOHN 5:9-10
98. THIRTY-EIGHT YEARS / JOHN 5:5
99. SIGNS AND WONDERS / JOHN 4:48
100. CROP FOR ETERNAL LIFE / JOHN 4:36
101. LOOK AT THE FIELDS / JOHN 4:35
102. SURPRISED TO FIND HIM TALKING WITH A WOMAN / JOHN 4:27
103. TRUTH / JOHN 4:24
104. WORSHIP … IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH / JOHN 4:23-24
105. SAMARITANS WORSHIP WHAT YOU DO NOT KNOW / JOHN 4:22
106. WATER … ETERNAL LIFE / JOHN 4:14
107. SAMARITAN WOMAN / JOHN 4:7
108. WHOEVER REJECTS / JOHN 3:36
109. GIVES THE SPIRIT WITHOUT LIMIT / JOHN 3:34
110. LOVED DARKNESS INSTEAD OF LIGHT / JOHN 3:19
111. GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD /JOHN 3:16
112. JUST AS MOSES LIFTED UP THE SNAKE / JOHN 3:14-15
113. THE WIND … THE SPIRIT / JOHN 3:8
114. BORN OF WATER / JOHN 3:5
115. BORN AGAIN / JOHN 3:3
116. TEMPLE / JOHN 2:19
117. DROVE ALL FROM THE TEMPLE AREA / JOHN 2:15
118. SIGNS / JOHN 2:11
119. CHOICE WINE – HAD TOO MUCH TO DRINK / JOHN 2:10
120. WINE – THEY HAVE NO MORE WINE / JOHN 2:3
121. YOU SHALL SEE HEAVEN OPEN / JOHN 1:51
122. CEPHAS … PETER / JOHN 1:42
123. THE FIRST THING ANDREW DID / JOHN 1:41
124. THE TENTH HOUR /JOHN 1:39
125. WILL BAPTIZE WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT / JOHN 1:33
126. LAMB OF GOD / JOHN 1:29
127. PHARISEES / JOHN 1:24
128. GRACE AND TRUTH / JOHN 1:17
129. THE WORD BECAME FLESH / JOHN 1:14
130. BORN NOT OF … HUMAN DECISION / JOHN 1:13
131. RECEIVED … BELIEVED / JOHN 1:12
132. THE WORLD DID NOT RECOGNIZE HIM / JOHN 1:10
133. GIVES LIGHT TO EVERY MAN / JOHN 1:9
134. HIS NAME WAS JOHN / JOHN 1:6
135. LIGHT SHINES IN THE DARKNESS / JOHN 1:5
136. LIFE WAS THE LIGHT OF MEN / JOHN 1:4
137. WITH GOD IN THE BEGINNING / JOHN 1:2
138. THE WORD / JOHN 1:1
139. CREWS N AWAY: ANCHORED IN GRACE

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Blessings, Margarita & Stace