SUFFERING WITH JESUS

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jun 17, 1858

SUFFERING WITH JESUS.

"If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us." 2 Tim. ii, 12.

Who would not choose to suffer with him who has suffered so much for us? His matchless love, it would seem, is sufficient to make us willing to suffer in his cause. And yet, in his superabounding grace, he has annexed a promise—the promise of reigning with him. He has set a joy before us; and shall we not, like him, endure the cross and despise the shame? He, though tempted, afflicted and tried, overcame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, where there are pleasures forevermore, and he promises, "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." Jesus suffered before entering into his glory. The Captain of our salvation was made perfect through suffering; and shall not we be willing to follow in his footsteps? Shall we inquire how little we may suffer, and still be glorified with Jesus? Shall we not rather crave to suffer much with him, that when his glory is revealed we may be glad with exceeding joy?

If we deny him, he also will deny us. Though we may have suffered with him, yet if we grow weary in well doing, think we have suffered enough and too much, draw back and deny him, all the past will avail us nothing—if we deny him, he also will deny us.

We may profess to know God, profess to suffer with Jesus, and yet in works deny him. We may talk suffering, and not suffer. We may profess faith in the soon coming of Jesus, we may say we do not love the world, we may profess to trample the pride of life under our feet, we may profess to have all on the altar of the Lord, and say to put our trust in him—and yet, in works, deny all this. We may have resolved to give all to God, to trample the world and its pride under our feet, to labor and suffer in his cause, and yet relapse, and, in works, deny all this. We may attempt to live upon our experience in the past—what we have done and suffered in the cause of Christ—and fancy that we ought to receive more than a penny, in consideration of our having borne the burden and heat of the day, and yet lay down our oar, take back our sacrifices, and, in works, deny all, and be denied of Jesus before his Father in heaven.

With what steadfastness and perseverance ought we to labor on, and toil and suffer in the cause of the blessed Jesus. These are perilous times. The thought rushes upon me, I may be left to turn back and deny Jesus. I hope it will not be so. I hope to be willing to suffer with Jesus till our sufferings shall be succeeded by the glory which is to follow. Beloved, let us suffer with Jesus till he shall take us to himself to reign with him. Let us ever remember,

"There is suffering ere the glory, There's a cross before the crown." R. F. C.