Spurgeon's devotion reminded me of a story I heard years ago. Can't remember if it actually happened or not, but its truth rings clear!
Story. A long time African missionary and wife had retired from the field and were heading back to the United States. On the ship it happened that President Teddy Roosevelt was returning from one of his African safaris. As the ship pulled into port, throngs of cheering people, bands playing, dignitaries were waiting to greet the President. It was quite a sight.
The pastor, observing the hoopla, turned to his wife and said, "For decades we lived in constant danger while proclaiming the eternal Gospel of salvation and teaching people God's Word. Yet, there is not one person here waiting to welcome us home." After a moment, his godly wife turned to him and said, "You do realize, dear, ...we are not yet home."
Little does the world care for the priceless things of God!
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"It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master." — Matthew 10:25
No one will dispute this statement, for it would be unseemly for the servant to be exalted above his Master. When our Lord was on earth, what was the treatment he received? Were his claims acknowledged, his instructions followed, his perfections worshiped, by those whom he came to bless? No; "He was despised and rejected of men." Outside the camp was his place: cross-bearing was his occupation. Did the world yield him solace and rest? "Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head." This inhospitable country afforded him no shelter: it cast him out and crucified him. Such-if you are a follower of Jesus, and maintain a consistent, Christ-like walk and conversation-you must expect to be the lot of that part of your spiritual life which, in its outward development, comes under the observation of men. They will treat it as they treated the Saviour-they will despise it. Dream not that worldlings will admire you, or that the more holy and the more Christ-like you are, the more peaceably people will act towards you. They prized not the polished gem, how should they value the jewel in the rough? "If they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?" If we were more like Christ, we should be more hated by his enemies. It were a sad dishonour to a child of God to be the world's favourite. It is a very ill omen to hear a wicked world clap its hands and shout "Well done" to the Christian man. He may begin to look to his character, and wonder whether he has not been doing wrong, when the unrighteous give him their approbation. Let us be true to our Master, and have no friendship with a blind and base world which scorns and rejects him. Far be it from us to seek a crown of honour where our Lord found a coronet of thorn.
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-Dale
