Today's encouragement comes from Hebrews 12:3, where we read these words:
"For consider Him [Christ] who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls."Are we much-maligned by sinners? Do godless people slander us, and drag our names (and persons) through the mud (as it were)? If so, let us not be bothered by this. The same thing happened to the very Son of God Himself. The huge difference is, that our hearts (aside from grace) *are* vile and wretched; whereas the pristine Savior was/is holy, harmless, and undefiled, (cf. Heb. 7:26).
Let us wear it as a badge of honor, if we get the opportunity to experience what Jesus did. Just as He died on the cross (with all the true saints with Him)—so He rose from the dead (thus assuring us of His [and our] victory over all His/our enemies).
[Puritan quote of the day: "The Church is excellent with regard to her origin, for she is of heavenly extraction and born of God Himself. All her true mem-bers are new creatures . . . “ —Nathaniel Vincent, in, "A Discourse concerning Love"]
