The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame…” vs. 7
Isaiah 50:4-9a
The prophet had been called by God to offer words of encouragement and comfort to the weary exiles in Babylon, and he had been a faithful servant. He had taught the people and listened to their laments and complaints day after day, and they did not treat him kindly. His faithfulness to the Lord had been rewarded with insults and persecution. But he refused to act like a victim. Never would he allow their despicable actions to disgrace him, and he remained faithful, knowing he would never be put to shame. Sadly this has been a common experience for the servants of the Lord through the centuries–even Jesus was not immune. And some of us live in environments where faithfulness is a recipe for teasing and ridicule. While our culture pretends to honor Christian values and principles, sometimes our peers can be cruel and vindictive when we try to live as the servants of Jesus. In some arenas being devout can definitely be seen as a deficit, and being a person of faith can get pretty lonely. But Jesus stood tall before his persecutors and refused to be kept from completing his mission. Hopefully we will never be tested as he was, but if trials come, we can certainly pray that we too will remain faithful.
Thought for the Day: How do people usually deal with disgrace and shame?
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