Today's Devotional

June 26, 2003

Subject:  What Did I Do To Deserve This?

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

Romans 15:3 - "For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me."

1Peter 2:21 - "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:"

You ever find yourself asking that question?  Well following through the three verses above really answers the question quite simply. First God asks us to go "outside the camp."  The tough part is that He asks us to bear His reproach.  Another translation of this says that we must "endure the insults that He endured."  

Then the second verse above says that Christ wasn't concerned about Himself, His wealth, His prosperity or His health.  He took responsibility for not only Himself but for the world.  Another translation says, "the insults of those who insult You have fallen on me."  Do we see the fallen world as our responsibility in prayer, in giving, in helping them come to know Christ?

Then the final verse says that we were called to this purpose of enduring insults and suffering and it's all because He wants us to live as Christ lived by "following in His steps."

The answer to the question: "You claimed the name of Christ."  Next time you feel that you don't deserve the treatment you're being given consider that you have been called to go out into the world bearing His reproach, not His comfort.

Carlen