Bearing His Reproach

Greetings in the Lord, sisters! 

I just wanted to encourage you today with some thoughts on how we who are new creations in Christ need to go through trials and persecutions for His sake. 

I may have shared this scripture before...but that doesn't matter. I just love it and it means a lot to me. 

"Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.

Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

Hebrews 13:12-14

Reminds me of this what Christ's disciples did to Him in His sufferings...

"And they all forsook him, and fled."

Mark 14:50

And how we oftentimes will be alone in this Christian walk. 

As believers, we know what Christ taught about persecution and separation that will and must come to those who want to follow Him. It is a separation from sin and false ways...for God's people are to be a holy/set apart people. 

"Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it."

Matthew 10:32-39

And at this time of year especially, with the pagan ways and festivities, that separation from those things may cause us to be reproached for Christ. We may feel very separated from the people all around us but we know the Lord is with us. A thing I find encouraging to remember in such times is what it says here.

  "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."

Matthew 5:11-12

As this is a woman's blog, there may be some things that pertain to us as women that we have to face in our lives. The one that obviously comes to mind is that we stand out in our biblical dress and headcovering. When we go shopping in the world, a crowd of people who are often obsessed with fashion and wearing as little as possible we do make a stand. While many and most think it's ridiculous the way we dress, we shine our light in that area. Yes we may feel as total strangers and for Christ's sake we bear the ridicule that could come from that. Maybe we never will see another biblically dressed and headcovered Christian woman in person in our lives...so we may be alone in that...but we must obey the Lord. 

I appreciate this verse...as an example to us. Even though the Lord had done mighty miracles and delivered them from their slavery, in their hearts they wanted to return. May that not be in any of us sisters. May we look forward and press on.

"To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust him from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt,"

Acts 7:39

Same with us, those who claim to be born again, it has to be in our heart that we don't turn back to any easier kind of life which will then lead us into actions of turning back. I don't want that in my own life. Christ is worthy of more than we can ever give Him. We have been made free from so many sins. Praise the Lord! Yes even though it will be hard at times we must press on through the trials if we are going to gain eternal life. 

Remembering this...

"So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do."

Luke 17:10

"For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh."

2 Corinthians 4:5-11

Be encouraged and look for the glorious life to come where all this will be over. Endure till then...giving God glory in our victorious lives.

I asked a wise and experienced sister for some areas that we women might have to bear reproach for Christ's name. 

Here are some areas she and her husband shared...which I will expand upon a little. Thank you for sharing them sister:-)

As I said earlier, dress is an area that is obvious for us women. We also could be reproached for not being feminist and instead being meek and quiet keepers at home and submitted helpers to husbands in those married; not being teachers and leaders in spiritual things. That isn't popular in today's world of loud assertive women...but it is God's holy way.

We may also mistakenly be considered members of a cult. Because there are so many different false denominations and religions, we women, who only desire to follow and obey the Word, may be confused as one of them. Let us press on as obedient children no matter if we are considered some kind of weird cult. God's Word and truth must be upheld. 

As striving holy and pure women saints of the Lord, we may have to go through life single...and most certainly be patient if the Lord's will is eventually otherwise. Of course most women want to be married but in these last days there are so few true believers. Yes some people think you are a little strange if you are older and you haven't married yet. Yes the Lord is able to do anything for His children and we trust that completely to Him and daily live faithfully for Christ, our true Bridegroom. Even if we never marry because we refuse to lower our standards, we should be setting our hopes and affections on things above, bearing that situation for Christ. If there are any single readers of this, now or in the future, we must never compromise on obedience to God one little bit just to find a spouse. Trust in God in that. This life is short and fleeting anyway. God knows your situation and He could so easily change it if it was His will. God works miracles of changing sinners into saints...so nothing is too hard for Him. Nothing. And He can help us bear all our reproaches no matter what they be. It will be worth it all in the end. 

As we know in the last times we may have to go through the great tribulation which is coming upon this earth. Today we must be preparing for potentially having to endure much hardship and persecution because of our faith. But... 

"He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son."

Revelation 21:7

His daughters will not deny Him...even in the face of death. 

There probably are more things you can think of in your own life where you might need to bear the reproach of Christ. What a worthy cause to suffer!

"But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.

Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf."

1 Peter 4:16

I encourage you to also do your own study of how the sacrifices were offered in the Old Testament without the camp and relate that to Christ suffering, rejected and how we are to be a living sacrifice and separate from and rejected by the world. It's absolutely amazing how God's ways all work together.

What a joy to count ourselves as servants of Christ bearing His reproach. He is worthy!

I hope and pray this has encouraged you to look to Christ who suffered greatly for us, while we were yet sinners, in order to bring us to God. We can be overcomers in Him.

Love in Christ's name, 

...from a soldier of His

See the good news to eternal life through Christ here.