What's your response?

The crowd answered, "You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?" - John 7:20

"You have a demon!" was the crowd's response when Jesus asked, "Why are you seeking to kill me?" The phrase is synonymous with "You are crazy!" in today's vernacular. The crowd was offended by Jesus' question and not ready to respond to it honestly.

Even today, many are offended by Jesus' teachings and respond hostilely to him and the church. As he told his disciples,

"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

Dear Church, God calls us to be holy, set apart from the world, and given the vocation of service to the Lord. Let us respond to the Holy Spirit in faith and humbleness as He transforms us into His likeness.

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. - 2 Corinthians 3:18