November 10, Evening
C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling
"It is enough for the disciple that he be as His Master." — Matthew 10:25 · KJV
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 treatment did He receive? Were His claims acknowledged, His instructions followed, His perfections worshipped, by those 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 give 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, Christlike walk and conversation — you must expect to be the lot of that part of your spiritual life which, in its outward showing, comes under the observation of men. They will treat it as they treated the Savior; they will despise it. Do not dream that worldlings will admire you, or that the more holy and Christlike you are, the more peaceably people will act toward 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 would be more hated by His enemies. It would be a sad dishonor to a child of God to be the world's favorite. It is a very bad omen to hear a wicked world clap its hands and shout "Well done" to a Christian; he may well look to his character and wonder whether he has been doing wrong, when the unrighteous give him their approval. Let us be true to our Master, and have no friendship with a blind and base world that scorns and rejects Him. Far be it from us to seek a crown of honor where our Lord found a crown of thorns.