DCLM Sincere Milk 15 November 2023 — Endure mockery for Christ’s sake
DCLM Sincere Milk 15 November 2023 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Endure mockery for Christ’s sake
Topic: Endure mockery for Christ’s sake
Text: Hebrews 11:32-40
33Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
34Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
35Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:
36And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
37They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
38(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
40God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.
Key Verse: “And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:” Hebrews 11:36
Message
Mockery and jesting are the ways the ungodly children try to weaken the mind and faith of friends of Jesus. Our Lord Jesus Christ was mocked and despised by the people He came to save. Satan thought he could use that weapon to discourage our Lord Jesus Christ so that He would give up on His mission to save boys and girls from sin, but Satan failed.
Today, many friends of Jesus are facing similar situations. In schools, at home, in the neighbourhood, friends of Jesus are facing mockery, insults, disrespect, false accusations, name-calling, hatred and rejection from classmates, unbelieving family members and neighbours. All these happen because Satan hates friends of Jesus and wants to turn them back from following Jesus Christ. They did it to Jesus, but He never gave up. You must not give up. It will soon be over. Many believers who are strong today had faced and some still face all kinds of opposition through mockery. They did not give up the faith, they were never ashamed, and they did not fight their persecutors. Today, they are strong in the Lord. You too will become strong. What should you do when faced with these challenges? Ignore the mockers and jesters, never retaliate, pray for them and focus your mind on Jesus Christ your Saviour. It shall be well with you.
Further Reading: Nehemiah 4:1-6
Prayer for today: Lord, give me the courage to overcome all the mockery of the ungodly.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
