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Wednesday in the Sixth Week after Epiphany - Year C This Week's Theme: Drawing Conclusions Mon  Tue  Wed  Thu  Fri  Sat  Sun     Archive John 15:19-21 (ESV) 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. Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Text provided by the Crossway Bibles Web Service      A certain honest and God-fearing man at Wittenberg, told me, that though he lived peaceably with every one, hurt no man, was ever quiet, yet many people were enemies unto him. I comforted him in this manner: Arm thyself with patience, and be not angry though they hate thee; what offence, I pray, do we give the devil? What ails him to be so great an enemy unto us? Only because he has not that which God has; I know no other cause of his vehement hatred towards us. If God give thee to eat, eat; if he cause thee to fast, be resigned thereto; gives he the honors? take them; hurt or shame? Endure it; casts he thee into prison? murmur not; will he make thee a king? Obey him; casts he thee down again? heed it not. —Martin Luther, Table Talk Pulling It Together       Day after day, he worked in his cubicle while the employee behind him ridiculed him for believing in God. He endured. It was about all he could do. When he tried to speak with her on the matter she became enraged and sometimes shouted, even there in the workplace. This poor soul was not railing at a concept. She hated something that was palpable to her—intensely and bitterly real. She hated God. By extension, she hated her co-worker who loved God. It was unreasonable but factual; it was a consequence of being a disciple of the One who pricked her conscience, the One whom she hated without a cause. (Jn 15:25) Daily Reform © Mark E. Ryman

Stained glass of "the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God." Revelation 21:2 (ESV)   Listen to today's Daily Reform here.   RSS Feed   Sing the NEW HYMN that celebrates the life of John Wyclyf (Wycliffe) so that your church can get to know this Pre-Reformer's contribution to the Church.   Subscribe to the FREE daily email.   Email Mark

© 2007 MARK E. RYMAN

For by grace you have been saved through faith. (Ephesians 2:8a, ESV)