1 O God, the nations have invaded your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple, they have reduced Jerusalem to rubble.
2 They have left the dead bodies of your servants as food for the birds of the sky, the flesh of your own people for the animals of the wild.
3 They have poured out blood like water all around Jerusalem, and there is no one to bury the dead.
4 We are objects of contempt to our neighbors, of scorn and derision to those around us. Psalm 79:1-4

These lines could have been written today for both Jews and Christians. The world is not a friend to Christians and Jews. While we are commanded to be in the world, the world really doesn’t “get” us.

They don’t get the call of sacrifice of jobs and money to advance an unseen kingdom.

They don’t get the need to go into all the nations with this news.

They don’t get turning the other cheek.

They don’t get blessing those who persecute us.

Fact is, we don’t even get that because it’s such a hard saying.

Instead the world sees those not living a godly life and profiting greatly from it. They get that and pounce on it. Do you blame them?

Even though they don’t “get” all of these things (and much more), God tells us to continue doing them, not because we want to impress others, but because He wants us to.

The world will continue hating us, persecuting us, and doing very nasty things to us. It’s part of our job description as Believers. It’s what we signed up for.

Fortunately His Spirit will give us the strength to endure it all.