Good morning,
Job, Jeremiah, Joseph and Jesus all knew what it felt like to be labeled a disgrace by their family, friends and enemies. Ever since sin became the basic way of life on earth, good people have known the sting of losing their reputations even though they were committed to living life God’s way. When Satan and God were talking about the good man, Job, Satan was quite sure that behind Job’s goodness was a weak man who could be disgraced by the right set of circumstances. The prophet Jeremiah was shocked to discover that his own family and friends considered him a disgrace to their good name and were planning to kill him because of all the things he was saying about people’s sins and God’s anger toward those who lived that way. Joseph found himself disgraced when he told his brothers about his dreams and found himself in prison for doing the right thing when falsely accused of an immoral act. When Jesus, our creator, came and lived here as a man, his goodness and godly teaching often found him surrounded by hateful religious experts who were sure he was a wicked fraud who was a disgrace to their version of God’s good name.
The writer of Hebrews made a startling suggestion when he encouraged all of God’s children to become willing volunteers in sharing the disgrace that Jesus carried when they took him outside the city to get rid of this dangerous man. He kept insisting that God’s way was the only right way to go through life. Jesus knew, and we must learn, that any earthly culture is based on variations of rebellion against the God who who gives life and the choice of loving or hating the God in charge of time and eternity. The cultures we live in are designed around the idea of living for ourselves for as much time as we can get, at someone else's expense. Jesus and those who live with his values are people with a different home and a different outlook on life that is based on living life God’s way no matter how often the people around them tell them they are stubborn and disgraceful. God’s Word and God’s Holy Spirit keep reminding us that this world is not our home. Our cultures and our neighbors and our families are not our eternal judges. God is! Jesus is leading the parade of all those who have been willing to live sacrificial lives that are based on loving and serving the only true Savior and Judge no matter what it costs them. It is Jesus’ example and our living faith in our loving God that will give us the strength to praise our God and boldly live by his standards in this fear driven and hate filled world. Dear Lord, please help us to be holy disgraces for the honor of your name.
Hebrews 13:13 So let us go out to him, outside the camp, and bear the disgrace he bore. 14 For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.15 Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name.
Roy Wisner
