1139. The Nobility in Suffering
The Nobility in Suffering
"If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified" (1Pe_4:14).
There is something noble in Christian suffering. One's real character may be seen there as nowhere else. When the flower is crushed a fragrance fills the room which, otherwise, would never be known. Let us look at the various statements which mark the nobility of suffering, as set forth in Peter's first Epistle.
1. Suffering with Patience. "When ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable unto God" (1Pe_2:20). We have heard of the patience of Job, and we need to pursue it. It is not suffering that glorifies God, but it is suffering with patience.
2. Suffering with Blessing. "Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing" (1Pe_3:9). The cat when attacked by the dog spits and scratches. The boy when attacked by another boy generally is cat-like. The faithful Christian never renders evil for evil. He never rails upon those who rail at him; he blesses them. If his enemy hungers, he gives him food, if he thirsts, he gives him drink. He blesses those who curse him; he blesses and curses not. How beautiful is the promise in Peter, that thus blessing, we shall inherit a blessing.
3. Suffering with Endurance. "For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully" (1Pe_2:19). This is the kind of suffering that pleases God. It is the one who is faint but faithful, the one who is weak but not weary.
Paul says, "Having obtained help from God I continue unto this day." Real suffering is magnified by patient endurance.
4. Suffering with Humility. "Be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility; for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble" (1Pe_5:5-6). When we suffer there should be none of that haughty and proud spirit about us.
Humility is, in no sense, a mark of weakness, it is a mark of highest strength. We should not vaunt ourselves when we suffer, nor lift up ourselves with indignity; arrogantly asserting our rights; we should possess a meek and a quiet spirit. We should accept all indignities in humility. This spirit, with God, is of great price.
5. Suffering with Joy. Does some one cry out? "Stop, you are going too far." "We have followed, step by step; we are willing to suffer with patience; to suffer, blessing those who persecute us; to suffer with endurance, and to suffer with humility, but you can't expect us to suffer with joy." Listen then to what God says, "If ye suffer for righteousness' sake happy are ye" (1Pe_3:14). "If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye" (1Pe_4:14). "But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's suffering" (1Pe_4:13).
Illustration: A deacon once came into our home. His heart was full of bitterness, his eyes were full of tears. He said, "Pastor, a woman has told a dirty, stinking lie on me." Immediately we said, "Well, hallelujah;" This nettled him. He said, "There isn't any hallelujah in it, it is a dirty, stinking lie." We said, "Glory." He said, "There isn't any glory in it." Then we quoted him the words: "Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad." Why should we grieve when we suffer for Christ's sake? Let us rather rejoice that we are counted worthy to bear His reproach, to suffer shame for His sake.
6. Suffering with the Spirit of Glory. "If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, * * the Spirit of Glory and of God resteth upon you * *. If any man suffer as a Christian, * * let him glorify God on this behalf" (1Pe_4:14, 1Pe_4:16). This seems to us to be the climax of nobility in suffering. We suffer clothed with the Spirit of Glory. We suffer glorifying God for the privilege of suffering. This Spirit of Glory rested upon Stephen when he suffered. As the people put their fingers in their ears and rushed against him, his face shone as the face of an angel. In this he gave a testimony that pricked the heart of the young man Saul, and had much to do with his final conversion. May we suffer with the Spirit of Glory resting upon us.
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR