Daily Bread – March 18, 2024 (The Second Day – Genesis 1:6-8) Psalms 69:9 – For the zeal of your House has eaten me up and the reproaches of Your reproaches have fallen on me. Sharing In The Sufferings Of Christ All who have been anointed share in the sufferings of Christ. David, along with so many others, experienced the persecutions of Christ. Little would have David realized all he would have had to suffer for the anointing he received when the oil was poured upon his head by Samuel. The man whom God anointed king would ultimately be abandoned by everyone, and would have to slobber all over himself and scratch like a dog before Abimelech (1 Samuel 21:13; Psalms 34:1). He was chased from one end of Israel to the other, hiding in the rocks and caves, because of the anointing upon his life. Similarly, Mary, one of His descendants, would have to bear the reproaches of Christ when it was discovered how she was with child by the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:20). Yet, she gave the reproach that inevitably would be laid upon her by men little thought, but instead proclaimed, “For He that is mighty has done great things to me, and holy is His Name” (Luke 1:49). Moses looked upon the reproaches of Christ, and those who were anointed of God appeared to him to be more glorious and desirable than the lavish wealth of Egypt and the fame of Pharaoh (Hebrews 11:24-27). Oh, how deeply it must touch the heart of the Father when we are willing to bear the insults and mockery of men that are actually directed towards Him. Our willingness to be totally identified with Him in every way and endure the persecutions of men and devils for His sake is not for one moment overlooked by Heaven (Hebrews 12:1-2; Acts 7:55-56; Luke 12:8; 1 John 4:15; Mark 8:38). Blessings, Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
Daily Bread 3/18/2024
