Spurgeon: March AM
* 03/29/AM
"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."