November 26

Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. - 1 John 3:13.

THE Christian can do very well without the world’s approval. The world has its influence, and there are many who are much influenced by it, but with regard to the world’s dislike of Christians, we observe, First, That for their sakes it is letter it should he so. For if we are redeemed out of the world, if we are Spiritual, we need not lament their distance from us. The more remote they are, the more safe shall we be from their influence. It is not easy to mingle with the heathen, and not learn their worship. Even Joseph, when in Egypt, learned to “swear by the life of Pharaoh.”

Secondly, There is nothing peculiar in this. Moses endured scorn and reproach rather than run into sin. David was ridiculed for reposing his all in God. Isaiah was sawn in sunder for his fidelity. The Apostles were considered the scum and the off-scouring of the earth, and not one of them died a natural death but John, and he in his old age was banished and worked as a slave in the Isle of Patmos; and when Paul was apprehended, on his way to Damascus, the Saviour said to Ananias, “I will show him how many things he is to suffer for my name’s sake.”

Shall we refuse to drink of the cup that they drank of, and be baptized with the baptism which they were baptized with? What are our trials compared with those that have been endured by the many that have gone before?

Thirdly, It hated the Master. “He was despised and rejected of men.” When will his poor followers remember that his name was cast out as evil, and that “the servant is not above his Master, nor the disciple above his Lord?” “Ye know,” says the Saviour, “it hated me before it hated you.” And is not this enough? Can we refuse to suffer in such company?

Fourthly, If the world knoweth us not, and hateth us, it will hereafter know us. “Wisdom will be justified of her children.” The day of the “manifestation of the sons of God” is coming. Then every cloud will be dispersed, and “the righteous shall shine forth as stars in the firmament of heaven.” “Then shall they return and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God, and him that serveth him not.” “I will bring them to thy feet,” says God, “and they shall know that I have loved thee.” But is not this anticipated by the world now?

In their dying hours they begin to see things as they are. “I have always observed,” remarks Mrs. Savage, the daughter of Philip Henry, “that the people of the world never speak well of it at parting.” How often might we hear them say, “Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his.”

Fifthly, If the world in its ignorance of Christians hateth us, God does not; and it is he on whose frowns or smiles depends our misery or our happiness. It is “a light thing to be judged of man’s judgment; he that judgeth us is the Lord. In his favour is life, and his loving-kindness is better than life.” This puts “joy into our hearts, more than when their corn and their oil and wine increases.” Let them curse, but bless thou.