[Songs in the Night - January 20]
If any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed. 1 Peter 4:16
THE apostle was not ashamed of his sufferings, because
he realized that they were endured for Christ's
sake.
Any man or woman would feel and should feel
deeply pained at a public arrest and imprisonment as
a felon, as a violator of the law.
But when these things
are experienced, and we can realize that they are
coming to us because of our faithfulness to the Lord,
in following in his footsteps, we may rejoice in ignominy,
rejoice in things which otherwise would be
shameful and detestable.
If, therefore, in the Lord's
providence, arrest or imprisonment or scourging should
come to any who read this article, and if they can directly
or indirectly trace their tribulation to faithfulness
to the Lord and his truth, let them not be ashamed;
let them glorify God on this behalf, rejoicing that they
are accounted worthy to suffer for the name of Christ,
and remembering that even thus also it was with our
Lord Jesus.
He was placed under arrest; he was
bound; he was scourged; he was publicly insulted; he
was even crucified as a blasphemer against God. Z'03-140 R3189:6 (Hymn 13)