Daily Bread 3/19/2024

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    Daily Bread – March 19, 2024 (The Third Day – Genesis 1:9-13) Psalms 69:9 – For the zeal of your House has eaten me up, and the reproaches of Your reproaches have fallen on me. The Privilege Of Being Identified With Christ The reproaches of Christ were such a glorious thing to Paul that he said, “that I might know Him in the fellowship of His suffering” (Philippians 3:10b). In the hall of faith, he describes those who were the forerunners of Christ and shared in His sufferings as those whom the world was not worthy. “And others received trials of mockings and scourgings, yes, and moreover of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, sawed in two, they were tempted, they were killed with the sword, they wandered in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, oppressed, and mistreated, of whom the world was not worthy, wandering in deserts, in mountains, in caves and in holes in the earth” (Hebrews 11:36-38). The splendor and glory of God found in the anointing is far more beautiful than anything that can be found in the ivory palaces of men. The privilege to be allowed of God to have His identity and be numbered with those who stand in His company and follow Christ surpasses all other titles and positions in this world and the world to come. We are allowed by God to come and gather around a despised and rejected cross where the pride of men can only see defeat and shame, but for us, it is the power and wisdom of God. We are awarded with the great prize of baptism in the Holy Spirit, Whose demonstration through our lives is foolishness to the world (John 14:17, 15:18; 1 Corinthians 2: 1-14). Let us not draw back nor be ashamed of who we are, but rather, esteem the reproaches of Christ as greater riches than anything else that can be acquired (Hebrews 11:26). Let us be bold and confident of who we are and what we are called to be. Do not allow the rejections of men to drive you to compromise, but rejoice and be exceedingly glad for great is your reward (Matthew 5:11-12). Blessings, Pastor Mark Spitsbergen