MADE PERFECT THROUGH SUFFERING.
By E. Hilliard
CHRIST is our pattern in all things. In kindness and courtesy we are to imitate his example. We are to cultivate the same unselfish love, and in all things obey him as he obeyed his Father. The Scripture saith, “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered.” Heb. 5:8. When clothed in humanity, he learned to keep in the path of obedience by the sorrow and the trials that came upon him. The more severe the conflict, the more dense the darkness that hovered over his pathway, the more tightly he pressed his Father’s hand, and the more earnest his petitions that ascended to heaven for divine aid. His trials drove him to God; for he knew of himself that he could do nothing. John 5:19. As he without his Father could do nothing, so he has taught us that without him we can accomplish nothing. John 15:5. Christ, the Captain of our salvation, was made perfect through suffering (Heb. 2:10); so we must be perfected in the same manner. He has said to us, “The disciple is not above his master; but every one shall be perfected as his master.” Luke 6:40, margin. The Master was made perfect through suffering, not for himself, but as a ransom and example for us. Then shall we shrink from trials and suffering? Christ, in order to reach to the lowest depths of sin and degradation, was made to feel the weakness of the weakest, that he might sympathize with and save the lowest. In being touched with the feeling of our infirmities he was made a perfect Saviour. This perfection was brought about through the most extreme suffering. With our blessed Saviour’s example before us, shall we think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try us, as though some strange thing happened unto us?—No, never; but, on the contrary, we should rejoice that we are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, that when his glory shall be revealed, we may be glad also with exceeding joy. Dear reader, have you learned to really rejoice in trial, especially when it is a severe, fiery trial? Does it drive you to the Lord? If it does, then you can rejoice, because in the presence of the Lord there is joy; there can be nothing but joy. If our troubles are not bringing us peace of soul, they are not working as God designs. Instead of being perfected by them, we are being made miserable, and are but tares ripening for destruction. O, that both reader and writer may learn the peaceful lessons that are wrapped up in fiery trials! May God in his own good way teach us that we are to be made perfect through suffering.