Today's Devotion Thursday, June 26, 2003 "Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings." (Isaiah 51:7) Today's Thought "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but names can never hurt me!" We can easily take that childhood rhyme and change it to read, "Sticks and stones can break my bones, but the reproach and revilings of men don't have to hurt me!" If you're a child of God . . . if you are abiding in Him today and His Word is in your heart . . . you have no reason to fear the the reproach of men or be afraid of their revilings. What is "reproach" and what are "revilings" that we should not fear? Rebuke, scorn, taunts . . . the fruit of mortal miserable men who say all manner of evil against you, making sport of you . . . ultimately making sport of the righteousness of God! His Word is in your heart . . . He will comfort you with His Word. You have been bought with a price, redeeemed and ransomed. You are a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, set apart for His service! You are endued with power from on high . . . any accusation from the enemy against you is meaningless . . . all because of the Blood of the Sacrificial Lamb poured out to cleanse us from our unrighteousness! Remember, ". . . it is written, vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." (Romans 12:19) The Psalmst writes, "In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me." (Psalm 56:11) Be secure and assured of God's love for you . . . put your trust in Him . . . do not fear what man can do (or say) to you! Today's Prayer Father, thank You for reminding me that You are fighting my battles for me . . . that I do not need to fear what man says to me, about me, against me, or even accuses me of. Their reproaches and revilings are powerless against Your Word which has been hidden in my heart! Grant me the strength, Lord, to stand firm and not fear when the enemy comes against me as a flood, remembering that You have raised a Standard against him . . . the Lord Jesus Christ! Amen and Amen! Have a blessed day! Jan Ross jan@... http://todaysdevotion.com "For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness." (Psalm 84:10) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----