Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Bearing His Reproach

Are you bearing reproach for your Saviour? Are you gathered alone to His name? Have you taken His place of rejection? Are you sharing His suffering and shame?

His Name, though despised and rejected, Is a Name that we honour and love, For JESUS, disowned by man's hatred, Is highly exalted above.

The apostles rejoiced and were happy,
When suffering shame for His Name,
They counted it joy to be worthy
To share in His suffering and shame.

And Moses, by faith, forsook Egypt,
Refusing its treasures and fame,
Chose rather to suffer affliction
And bear the reproach of His Name.

If ye be reproached for your Saviour,
The Scripture says "Happy are ye,"
The Spirit of God and of glory
Is resting in blessing on thee.

O think of the anguish HE suffered,
These words of His own lips did impart;
"Mine enemies daily reproach Me,"—
"Reproach, it hath broken My heart!"

Dread not the reproach that men offer,
Fear not their revilings and shame,
For Jesus is with you to comfort,
He knows, for He's suffered the same.

So, if His reproach you are feeling,
When following Jesus as Lord,
The path will grow sweeter and brighter,
And bring an eternal reward.

[Lois Beckwith]

Acts 5:41 … And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.

Hebrews 13:13 … Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

Isaiah 51:7 … Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.

1 Peter 4:14 … If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. ♥