Lesson 211 – When the Spirit of Glory Rests

1 Peter 4:14

"If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified."

None of us really wants to be known as a reproach. You know these people. They are the ones we turn from when they come into the room. We cross to the other side of the street to avoid them when they walk by. We find nothing funny in their jokes, and we certainly wouldn't choose these people as our friends. A reproach is definitely not what we want for our lives.

Instead, we'd rather be known for our successes, or vibrant personalities, or our intelligence, or for being a really cool dude, or whatever vernacular is used now days. Simply put, we want others to like us. It makes us feel good about whom we've turned out to be in life.

Still, Peter reminds believers we'll probably find ourselves sooner or later as a reproach to some. The fact is, people won't like us all the time, for we bear the name of Christ through the Spirit's touch. People don't want to be convicted of sin, and as we bear the Spirit of Christ in us for God's glory, we help bring about this conviction. Since some have made up their minds to reject Christ, our presence is a reproach to them.

Often times, these people to whom we've become a reproach don't even know why they don't like us. But for me, it is clear. The Spirit of Glory rests on my soul, and the Prince of the Air rests on them. These spirits are at war with each other, and our lives have become the battle field. It shouldn't surprise us when we are hated unfairly, for people aren't really hating us, but the Lord who is within us.

Of course, our prayers for these people are that they won't see us as an approach, but rather as a friend who is showing them the same access to Christ we've already experienced. We're not here to reject these people, but to show them the love of Christ, for it is only this love that will get us beyond the reproach.

LORD JESUS

Lord, I thank you for the Spirit of Glory which dwells within me. May your Spirit help me to love those who consider my life a reproach, and may their hearts be born again unto the Lord. Amen.