Psalm of the Day: Psalm 89:1-10
Wisdom of the Day: Job 11:1-10
Scripture Reading: Luke 7:24-30
The first point that demands our notice in this passage is the tender care of Jesus. He defends the reputation of John the Baptist as soon as his messengers were departed. He saw that the people around him were apt to think lightly of John partly because he was in prison, and partly because of the inquiry which his disciples had just brought.
He pleads the cause of His absent friend in warm and strong language. He bids His hearers to dismiss from their minds their unworthy doubts and suspicions about this holy man. He tells them that John was no wavering and unstable character; that he was no mere reed shaken by the wind. There is something deeply touching in these sayings of our Lord on behalf of his absent servant. The position which John now occupied as Herod's prisoner was widely different from that which he occupied at the beginning of his ministry. At one time he was the best-known and most popular preacher of his day. Now he was an obscure prisoner in Herod's prison — deserted, friendless, and with nothing before him but death.
Lack of man's favor is no proof that God is displeased. There is comfort here for all believers who are defamed, slandered, and falsely accused. Few are the children of God, who do not suffer in this way, at one time or other. Satan is the accuser of the brethren who knows well that character is one of the points in which he can most easily wound a Christian. Lies and false reports are the chosen weapons by which he labors to injure the Christian's usefulness, and destroy his peace.
But let all who are assaulted in their characters rest in the thought that they have an Advocate in Heaven who knows all their sorrows. That same Jesus who maintained the character of His imprisoned servant before a Jewish crowd will never desert any of His people. The world may frown on them. Their names may be cast out as evil by man. But Jesus never changes. He will one day plead their cause before the whole world.
Prayer for the Day: Dear Lord, thank you that you always stand by me.
Action Plan: How does God want me to treat those who hate and slander me? Read Luke 6:27-36 and Romans 12:14-21.
This devotional was taken from The Gospel of Luke by J.C. Ryle published in 1858
and adapted by Pastor Tim Lewis of New England Shores Baptist Church.
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