Spurgeon: July PM
* 07/03/PM
"If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him."
--2 Timothy 2:12
We must not imagine that we are suffering for Christ, and
with Christ, if we are not in Christ . Beloved friend, are you
trusting to Jesus only? If not, whatever you may have to mourn
over on earth, you are not "suffering with Christ," land have no
hope of reigning with Him in heaven. Neither are we to conclude
that all a Christian's sufferings are sufferings with Christ,
for it is essential that he be called by God to suffer . If we
are rash and imprudent, and run into positions for which neither
providence nor grace has fitted us, we ought to question whether
we are not rather sinning than communing with Jesus. If we let
passion take the place of judgment, and self-will reign instead
of Scriptural authority, we shall fight the Lord's battles with
the devil's weapons, and if we cut our own fingers we must not
be surprised. Again, in troubles which come upon us as the
result of sin, we must not dream that we are suffering with
Christ . When Miriam spoke evil of Moses, and the leprosy
polluted her, she was not suffering for God. Moreover, suffering
which God accepts must have God's glory as its end . If I
suffer that I may earn a name, or win applause, I shall get no
other reward than that of the Pharisee. It is requisite also
that love to Jesus, and love to His elect, be ever the
mainspring of all our patience. We must manifest the Spirit of
Christ in meekness, gentleness, and forgiveness. Let us search
and see if we truly suffer with Jesus . And if we do thus
suffer, what is our "light affliction" compared with reigning
with Him ? Oh it is so blessed to be in the furnace with Christ,
and such an honour to stand in the pillory with Him, that if
there were no future reward, we might count ourselves happy in
present honour; but when the recompense is so eternal, so
infinitely more than we had any right to expect, shall we not
take up the cross with alacrity, and go on our way rejoicing?