Daily Companion  |  12 April

THOUGH REPROACH BREAKS HEART...

Reproach has broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness; I looked for someone to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. (Psalm 69:20)

   There was a story of a Christian couple who lost their newborn to an unusual neonatal disease. They had a premonition about the tribulation that befell them through divine revelation. And instead of being downcast, they decided not to mourn the death of the child but took solace in Christ. This did not go down with people who saw them unmoved. “Why would they not mourn? They must have killed their own child”, so people reproached them.

 Reproach is an expression of people disapproval of you; an expression of their disappointment that you are calm when you are supposed to be troubled. That you are happy when you are meant to be downcast. Our Lord Jesus Christ said as a true believer you will be reproached and much more reviled (angrily and abusively reproached). 

Christ was reproached severally to the extreme. To Him they said, “He hast a devil?” (John 8:48). “He deceiveth the people” (John 7:12). “He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils” (Matthew 9:34). They even said, “this man is a sinner” (John 9:24); “a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners.” (Matthew 11:19).“Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46).  These all came from people who claim to know God’s word and enforce its tradition. So don’t be surprised if you are reproached by fellow Christians. If Judas Iscariot did not beleive in such reproach, he wouldn't have consented to betray the Saviour. By the time he realized that he has conspired to crucify the innocent, it was too late for him. 

Reproach can cause depression, heaviness of heart or even make you lose temper. You need the Comforter, the Holy Spirit at such a moment. Are you being reproached for being barren? Or you are reviled for losing your job for righteousness sake? Or becoming poor because you now follow Jesus? You need to remember the Master's approach to reproach, seek comfort in the Holy Ghost. Have the Christ and the Comforter in you today. Perhaps you reproach others, repent today. 

Today’s Recite:  It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? (Matthew 10:25)

Today’s Morning Prayers: Heavenly Father, I thank You for today's lesson. I pray You grant me the grace and comfort of the Holy Ghost to react positively when reproached. Turn my reproach into glory. May I also not reproach others in Jesus name I pray. Amen!

Today’s Hymn: In Christ Alone

Today’s ReadMe:  1 Kings 14 - 16