Because they are not part of the world’s system, Christians should expect it to hate and oppose them.

由于基督徒不是这世界体系的组成部分，他们应预见到世界会仇恨敌对他们。

If you’ve been a Christian for a while, you doubtless remember how soon you realized that you were no longer in step with the world’s culture. You were no longer comfortable with its philosophy. You no longer had the world’s desires and yearnings. You no longer felt good about doing some of the things the world takes for granted. In fact, you even felt constrained to speak out against such things and urge unbelievers to turn from their sins and embrace Christ. All that opposition to worldliness, when added up, can and will result in hatred toward us from people in the world.

如果你成为基督徒已有一段时间，毫无疑问你很快意识到已经与世界的文化不再合拍了。你对世界的哲学不再感觉舒适，你不再有这世界的欲望和渴求，你对做一些世人以为理所当然的事不再感觉良好。事实上，你甚至感到不得不大声反对这些事，并催促不信的人转离罪拥抱基督。当所有这些对世界的反对累积起来，可以且必将导致世上的人仇恨我们。

In John 15, the Greek word translated “world” (kosmos) refers to the world’s system of sin, which is devised by Satan and acted out by sinful people. The Devil and his angels sometimes make it even more difficult for us by subtly presenting their “religion” as if it were true. Such deception can lull us into complacency and leave us spiritually weak when persecution comes.

在约翰福音15章，“世界”在希腊原文指的是这世界罪的体系，它是撒旦策划，由有罪的人实行出来的。那恶者和他的使者狡猾地展示他们的“宗教”，好像它就是真的，令我们有时更觉困难。这种骗术会把我们哄得志满意得，并且当逼迫来临之时陷我们于灵里的软弱。

Because of the world’s relentless opposition to God’s kingdom, it is crucial that we remember Christ’s call to stand for Him in our sinful society. The apostle Paul exhorts us to be “children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation” (Phil. 2:15).

因着这世界无情地敌对神的国度，我们需要牢记基督的呼召，在这罪恶的社会中为祂坚守。使徒保罗劝诫我们要“在这弯曲悖谬的世代，作神无瑕疵的儿女”（腓2：15）。

If we take Scripture seriously and prayerfully spend time in it daily, we will not be caught off guard when our faith is opposed. Instead, we will be heartened by Jesus’ words, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matt. 5:14).

如果我们认真地对待圣经，并每日好好祷告、花时间读经，当我们的信心遭遇敌对时，就不至措手不及。相反，我们会受到耶稣话语的激励：“你们是世上的光，城造在山上，是不能隐藏的”（太5：14）。

Ask the Lord to strengthen you today and to remind you that even though you are not of the world, you are to be a light to it.

求主今天坚固你，提醒你尽管你不属这世界，你却要成为光照亮它。

Read the account of John the Baptist’s death in Mark 6:14.

阅读马可福音6：14中施洗约翰之死的记载。

·         How did John suffer before he was killed?

·         What character differences do you see between John and Herod?

·         约翰被害前是如何受苦？

·         你看到约翰和希律两人的性格有何不同？