Virtually everybody has a sign out now either digitally or actually asking for people to “like” them on Facebook and Twitter. It’s quite hilarious when you stop to think about it. Being liked by people we don’t know and never spend time with is a national expectation. I tried to imagine Jesus telling this to the apostles, “Guys, make sure you get all the people in these towns to like us…” When you read the text for Sunday (Matthew 10:16-23) you’ll note that it may have been Jesus’ desire for the apostles to be liked but it wasn’t going to happen. In fact, He actually warned them that they would be hated by all kinds of people! That is not a very encouraging way to start a mission of Kingdom expansion! He even gets specific regarding the people who would reject them for His name’s sake. The leaders of false religion would reject and even torture those who announce the reign of God. Government leaders would see Christ’s lordship as a threat and seek to eliminate them. The worst part of the list in chapter 10 is family. It is easier to handle when we don’t love and expect love but when our own families reject and scorn us for believing the truth that is the worst. This kind of persecution and rejection does not happen to every apprentice of Jesus but it has happened, it does happen and it will happen to all of us to one degree or another. True truth divides people. It simply is not true that “everything is true.” Some things are mutually exclusive, this is not just true in science and history, it is true in morality and spirituality. Announcing God’s Kingdom and extending terms of peace seems like a simple straight-forward act of goodness. Do not be surprised if the world hates you…Jesus was preparing us for the reality of difficulty as we walk with Him.