Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
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Jesus said, "Woe unto the man whom all men speak well of." If everyone is speaking well of you, then you are doing something wrong. That being true, we can say that if everyone is speaking well of you, then there is a "woe" on you, so to speak, meaning that you are displeasing God and there is trouble ahead for you. The reason for this is simple. It is impossible to obey God without provoking somebody to anger and hatred. As it is written, "ALL who live righteous in Christ Jesus SHALL suffer persecution" (2Tim. 3:12). A holy life brings light into the world; it exposes those who are still living in sin. You don't have to try to make it be that way; simply obeying God does it. True holiness makes sin appear to be sin, and very often, when their sins are exposed, sinners choose to condemn the light rather than to repent.
In the Bible, the first case of this was with Cain and Abel. Abel's righteousness exposed Cain's sin, and Cain chose to murder his brother rather than to repent. Abel had no hateful attitude toward his older brother; he was not trying to make Cain appear to be evil. He simply loved God, and his love for God exposed Cain's lack of it. Cain's violent reaction to being exposed cost Abel his earthly life, but Abel was welcomed into God's Paradise to live in peace forever. He will never feel pain again.
Children of God should be taught to expect to be persecuted if they keep the commandments of God; it has always happened and will continue to happen that way as long as this world stands. Listen, my dear brother. When you obey God, and then someone speaks evil of you, there is no reason for you to become angry or indignant. It is normal in this world for a godly life to be "evil spoken of". Indeed, the holier life you live, the more unjustly you will be slandered. Jesus was often cruelly and falsely accused by the leaders of God's people. He was called a deceiver, a blasphemer, a demon-possessed man, a bastard, and other such things. Such words hurt his heart deeply; he was a man "acquainted with grief"; but he was not discouraged. He knew beforehand that such cruel accusations would be made if he chose to obey his Father. We need to know that, too. Otherwise, we might be provoked by false accusations to speak evil of others in return. But then, we would ourselves fall under the condemnation of God.
My earthly father had a saying that helped me understand this. He believed Jesus told the truth when he said that there is a "woe" on the man whom all men speak well of. So, when my father heard of a false accusation being made against him, he thanked God that someone had "taken the 'woe' off" him. If there was a "woe" on him when all men spoke well of him, then that "woe" had been taken off him by the person who was speaking evil of him, and he accepted it as a necessary part of life in the Spirit. This was my father's way of teaching us not to be discouraged or provoked to anger when people speak evil of us, but to receive persecution with a meek and thankful attitude. Jesus taught his disciples the same important lesson in these words: "Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice! And be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."
Jesus warned Paul from the time he called him that he would suffer much if he obeyed the will of God (Acts 9:15-16). Paul and Peter, as well as other men of God, also warned all believers to be prepared to suffer persecution for Christ's sake. It is part of a shepherd's duty not only to guide the saints in truth and righteousness but also to prepare them for the hateful reactions of the world, especially the religious leaders in this world.
If you obey God, some people are not going to like it. Be prepared for the adverse reactions that you will suffer if you love God and do His will. Jesus suffered the same cruelty when he lived among us, and bore those painful reproaches in meekness and love. We can do the same. And if we suffer with him, it is promised that we shall reign with him (2Tim. 2:12).
We end this Thought for Today with Peter's wonderful exhortation to the children of God everywhere: "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trail that is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you. But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings, that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy."