Morning, March 29
Go To Evening Reading
“Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which
he suffered.”
Hebrews 5:8
We are told that the Captain of our salvation was made perfect through
suffering, therefore we who are sinful, and who are far from being
perfect, must not wonder if we are called to pass through suffering
too. Shall the head be crowned with thorns, and shall the other members
of the body be rocked upon the dainty lap of ease? Must Christ pass
through seas of his own blood to win the crown, and are we to walk
to heaven dryshod in silver slippers? No, our Master’s experience teaches us that suffering is necessary, and the true-born
child of God must not, would not, escape it if he might. But there
is one very comforting thought in the fact of Christ’s “being made perfect through suffering”—it is, that he can have complete sympathy with us. “He is not an high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of
our infirmities.” In this sympathy of Christ we find a sustaining power. One of the
early martyrs said, “I can bear it all, for Jesus suffered, and he suffers in me now; he
sympathizes with me, and this makes me strong.” Believer, lay hold of this thought in all times of agony. Let the
thought of Jesus strengthen you as you follow in his steps. Find a
sweet support in his sympathy; and remember that, to suffer is an
honourable thing—to suffer for Christ is glory. The apostles rejoiced that they were
counted worthy to do this. Just so far as the Lord shall give us grace
to suffer for Christ, to suffer with Christ, just so far does he honour us. The jewels of a Christian
are his afflictions. The regalia of the kings whom God hath anointed
are their troubles, their sorrows, and their griefs. Let us not, therefore,
shun being honoured. Let us not turn aside from being exalted. Griefs
exalt us, and troubles lift us up. “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him.”