John Read by: Christy GatesIn our context, particularly in the West, many Christians don’t really know what it’s like to be persecuted. Our churches are often places of comfort--places we go to get a weekly dose of “feel good.” But the early followers of Jesus (and, in fact too many Christians around the world today) knew what it was like to be hated by those around them, by those who had seen and heard Jesus but wanted to maintain their own power and privilege instead.Today’s passage is a call for seriousness. Jesus’ words to the disciples are meant to say, in a sense, “Get ready.”----------REFLECT----------1. What word or image stood out to you in the passage?2. What about this passage encouraged you? What about it challenged you?3. How is the LORD inviting you to respond to this passage today? What might need to change? What might need to stay the same?----------CONNECT----------Find an InterVarsity Chapter >>Start an InterVarsity Chapter >> Learn More >> --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/dailyread/message