I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.

Posted : 29 Mar, 2013 02:29 AM

Psalm 119:46 I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.





"Liberty in walking" in the Lord's ways will naturally produce

boldness in speaking of them. Compare the conduct of the

three unshaken witnesses for the truth before the Babylonish

monarch. Mark the difference of the spirit displayed by the

Apostles, and especially by Peter, before and after the day of

Pentecost. Look at Stephen before the council, and Paul

before Felix, Festus, and Agrippa. "God had not given to them

the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound

mind." Hear the great Apostle testifying of himself-"I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also"-at the

metropolis of the world, in the face of all opposition and

contempt, and at the imminent hazard of my life-"For"-says

he-"I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ." In the same

determination of soul, he exhorts his dear son in the faith-"Be

not ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His

prisoner." To how many does "the fear of man bring a snare?"

Many a good soldier has faced the cannon's mouth with

undaunted front, and yet shrunk away with a coward's heart

from the reproach of the cross, and been put to blush even by

the mention of the Savior's name. Far better-the Son of Man

"strengthening you"-to brave the fiery furnace, or the den of

lions in His service, than like Jonah, by flinching from the

cross, to incur the sting of conscience and the frown of God.

Professing Christians! Are we ready to bear our testimony for

Jesus, against the sneer and ridicule of the ungodly? We are

not likely to "be brought before kings and rulers for the Son of

Man's sake." Yet no less do we need Divine help and strong

faith in withstanding the enmity of a prejudiced relative or

scornful neighbor. Young people! you are perhaps in especial

danger of being ashamed of your Bible, your religion, your

Savior. You may be brought under the snare of the "fear of

man," and be tempted to compromise your religion, and to

sacrifice your everlasting all from a dread of "the reproach of

Christ." But remember Him, who for your sake "before Pontius

Pilate witnessed a good confession;" and shall the dread of a

name restrain you from sharing His reproach, and banish the

obligations of love and gratitude from your hearts? Have you

forgotten, that you once owned the service of Satan? and will

you not be as bold for Christ, as you were for him? Were you

once "glorying in your shame;" and will you now be ashamed

of your glory? Oh! remember who has said, "Whoever shall be

ashamed of Me and of My words, in this adulterous and sinful

generation, of him also shall the Son of Man be ashamed,

when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." Think much and often of this word. Think on this day.

Think on the station of "the fearful and unbelieving" on the left

hand on that day. Think on their eternal doom. What is a

prison, compared to hell? What need to pray and tremble! If

you are sincere in your determination, and simple in your

dependence, then will the "love of Christ constrain you," not to

a cold, calculating, reluctant service; but to a confession of

your Savior, bold, unfettered, and "faithful even unto death."

Every deviation from the straight path bears the character of

being ashamed of Christ. How much have you to speak in

behalf of His testimonies, His ways, His love! When in danger

of the influence of "the fear of man," look to Him for strength.

He will give to you, as He gave to Stephen-"a mouth and

wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to

gainsay or resist." Thus will you, like them, be strengthened

"to profess a good profession before many witnesses."



by

Charles Bridges

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