11/4, Despised Rejection

R. M. McCeyne’s DAILY BREAD portions:

MORNING:
2 Kings 17 (family); Hosea 10 (secret)
EVENING:
Titus 3 (family); Psalm 129-131 (secret)

A CHRISTIAN CATECHISM:

Q9. What is the work of creation?
A9. The work of creation is God’s making all things from nothing, by the Word of His power, in six normal consecutive days, and all very good. Genesis 1:1, 31; Exodus 20:11; Hebrews 11:3

Q10. How did God create man?
A10. God created man, male and female, after His own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness with dominion over the creatures. Genesis 1:27-28; Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10

Q11. What are God’s works of providence?
A11. God’s works of providence are His most holy, wise, and powerful, preserving and governing all His creatures, and all their actions. Psalm 145:17; 103:19; Isaiah 28:29; Matthew 10:29; Hebrews 1:3

CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST DEVOTION:

“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not” (Isaiah 53:3).

Jesus of Nazareth was not valued as He walked upon the earth and it culminated in His desolate rejection be the men of the world at Calvary: by His people Israel (John 1:11), and by the rest of the world, Rome (Luke 23:24).

Although He was crucified, buried, and risen; though He appeared alive and ascended into the clouds; though He received again the glory He once knew with the Father; and though He is exalted to His rightful position seated at the right hand of Majesty on high, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is still despised and rejected of men. “Then shall He answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to Me” (Matthew 25:45).

And, if we are new creatures in Christ, truly regenerated by the supernatural power of the living God, then we know that Christ really, truly, and actually dwells within us by His Holy Spirit. His indwelling presence is a greater reality, a more certain truth, and a more intimate actuality than when our Lord walked with His disciples on the shores of Galilee. If this is so, we will be despised and rejected as well. “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you” (John 15:18).

We don’t have to go out of our way to be hated, despised, or rejected. If we are abiding in Christ, and He in us, we will be hated, despised, and rejected by the unbelieving, God-hating, Christ-rejecting world.

How do we abide? Keep at the Cross and stay in His Word in absolute abandon and unconditional surrender the Holy One of Israel; and it cannot be accomplished through the will of our flesh, it must be by His power, His strength, and His might. Call out to Him. Cry out to Him. Don’t stop until it is so and a work has been done. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13).

Lord, from the depths to Thee I cry’d
my voice, Lord, do Thou hear:
Unto my supplication’s voice
give an attentive ear.

Lord, who shall stand, if Thou, O Lord,
should’st mark iniquity?
But yet with Thee forgiveness is,
that fear’d Thou mayest be.

I wait for God, my soul doth wait,
my hope is in His Word.
More than they that for morning watch,
my soul waits for the Lord;

I say, more than they that do watch
the morning light to see.
Let Israel hope in the Lord,
for with Him mercies be;

And plenteous redemption
is ever found with Him.
And from all his iniquities
He Isr’el shall redeem.

Psalm 130 A Song of degrees.
Scottish Psalter