August 8 – Reproached for the Name of Christ? Consider Yourself Blessed.

Hope for Today: A Daily Devotion from Reasons for Hope*Jesus

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“If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” 1 Peter 4:14

“Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in Heaven.” Luke 6:23

“Whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in Heaven.” Matthew 10:32-33

Every real Christian must expect persecution from the world. Though he should guard against giving needless offence by self-will or rash conduct of any kind, yet he should not seek to shun the cross. On the contrary, he should be willing to suffer everything rather than to hurt the cause of God in the least.

We should openly confess Christ out Lord, and not mind being called fools by the wicked, as we know that at last they will call themselves by that name. Let us not, therefore, care for the approbation and praise of the world — but count it a great honor to bear the reproach of Christ even as Moses, who counted the reproach of Christ greater treasure than all the riches of Egypt. If we are reproached for the sake of Christ now, we shall be honored by Christ by and by. For when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall we also appear with Him in glory.

Bless’d are the suff’rers who partake
Of pain and shame for Jesus’ sake,
Their souls shall triumph in the Lord,
Glory and joy are their reward.

The Lamb shall lead His heav’nly flock
Where living fountains rise;
And love divine shall wipe away
The sorrows of their eyes.

Devotion by Karl Heinrich von Bogatzky (1690—1774)