“The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” (1 John 3:1b ESV)
God created humans to be known. From the dawn of creation, God had announced that it was “not good for man to be alone.” This is not just the reason God created marriage; it’s the underlying reason for all community, including the community of the church. We need the fellowship of God’s people to fill the emptiness we naturally feel when we live a life of solitary experience.
Missionaries sense this acutely, many laboring for months and years without the regular community and edification of the body of Christ. They go out into the world, which, as John says, “does not know” them, and pour out their lives for the gospel. Each morning, they prepare to enter the spiritual wasteland of worldly hostility to hold high the standard of Christ before the lost. They often lack the blessing of relational reciprocity in their communities, receiving mockery and antagonism in its place in a world that is at enmity with God.
The consolation of this, however, is found in John’s words, “it did not know him.” The chasm between the believer and the world reflects the chasm between the world and Christ, with whom the believer is united and identified. Jesus reminded us,
If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 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. (John 15:18-19 ESV)
What’s more, this is the experience of everyone who bears the name of Christ—not just missionaries on the front lines of gospel work. Hence, John labors explain this dynamic to his readers in detail. He knows that most of us are naturally conflict-averse, and when we experience the difficulties of living and ministering in a world that does not know us, we may be tempted to seek comfort by capitulating to the world. But to do so is to abandon Christ who was also unknown by the world. The momentary suffering of worldly rejection is a testament to the imperishable, undefiled, and unfading inheritance that is kept in heaven for those who are in Christ (1 Peter 1:4).
This truth bolsters the laborer expending himself in the harvest fields. Though he is a spiritual exile and foreigner, unknown by his neighbors, he enjoys the abiding presence of the One for whom he is pouring out his life. When he feels the most distant from those around him, he has only to look to Christ to enjoy the most intimate fellowship.
We all long to be known—to experience the warmth, peace, and joy of a loved one’s company. We were created for such intimate fellowship not only with our fellow human beings but also with God as our Creator. For the believer, the ultimate satisfaction of this desire awaits him in the life to come. Since this world is not our home, it will never truly feel like home. The exile of the Christian can be painful, but it is not permanent. We may not be known by this world, but we are known, and foreknown by the God who will bring us safely to glory (Romans 8:29-30).Indeed, Jesus promised us, “In the world you will have tribulation.” And yet, he also promised, “take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). When pressed by the world, rest in God’s intimate love for and knowledge of us as his beloved children.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
We struggle with the difficulty of living in a world in which we are not known. Continually set our eyes on Christ that we may be strengthened by our union with him and reminded that we are held and loved by you.
For his sake, amen.
Prayer Requests:
- Tuesday: Pray for the faithfulness of missionaries serving with Impacto Biblico Baptist Church in Santa Marta, Colombia.
- Wednesday: Pray for the effectiveness of Live Global partners Felix and Oana as they plant a church in Romania.
- Thursday: Pray for the fruitfulness of missionaries and national partners reaching rural Burmese communities.
- Friday: Pray for the students and staff at Goroka Baptist Bible College in Papua New Guinea to glorify God through academic excellence and receive all the funds they need for expansion.
- Saturday: Pray for the ABWE missionary team serving in the Czech Republic to be encouraged in gospel ministry.
- Sunday: Pray for missionaries in Argentina to find new ways to engage the lost.
- Monday: Pray for missionaries serving in Communications and Media roles to produce good, true, and beautiful content.
Featured Opportunity to Serve:
Director/Coordinator of Administration Management
Location: Bangladesh
Our team needs a humble and willing individual skilled in administration and management to come serve as the director or coordinator of Memorial Christian Hospital in Bangladesh, sharing the love of Christ in a Muslim context.
