1138. The Novelty in Suffering

The Novelty 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).

We present just here what may seem "new" in the line of our suffering. Unbelievers in spite of the Psalmist's deductions have their times of sorrow and of suffering in this world of sin. However, they do not suffer as saints suffer. Believers have something entirely new and novel in the way of suffering. It is the distinctive way in which they bear their sufferings. Of this, two things may be said.

1. We should suffer as Christ suffered. "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow in His steps."

(1) "When He was reviled, He reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not." He committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously. Here is a novelty in suffering. The world does not suffer thus. Saints should. Can we imagine the crucifixion!

"Hark! hark! the dull blow, of the hammer swung low, They are nailing our Lord to the tree."

But Christ uttered no maledictions, He pronounced no curses, He was like the sheep before the shearers, and the lamb at the slaughter.–He was dumb.

(2) "He gave His back to the smiters;" He yielded Himself unresistingly to those who plucked out His hair. How different it must have been with the thieves who were nailed to the two crosses. We can well imagine their curses and their cries.

We should suffer as He suffered, uncomplainingly, gladly. We should arm ourselves with the same mind as He possessed (see 1Pe_4:1).

Paul put it this way in Philippians: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" (Php_2:5).

(3) "He became obedient unto death." Christ was God, and yet He gladly took upon Him the form of a servant, and made in the likeness of man. Then He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross. This is the mind we should have in us, and this is the new way to suffer.

2. As a Christian. "But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or as an evil-doer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed" (1Pe_4:15-16).

Sometimes Christians boast their persecutions and their suffering, when they are receiving the due reward for their deeds. Sufferings which we thus bring upon ourselves, are not a matter for glorying. If we suffer as Christians, that is because "Christ-is-in" then we can glorify God on this behalf.

The thing which has puzzled the world during the centuries has been the patient endurance of the martyr in the hour of his trial.

Illustration: We were greatly moved as Brother Atchinac of Mount Lebanon, Syria, related his experience. Ninety per cent. of his own people had been massacred by the Turks. Even as a child beholding many of their atrocities, a hatred of the Turks was born in his soul. He determined that as soon as he was old enough he would slay as many Turks as he could. With this end in view, when but a youth he joined the Turkish army, that he might the better learn how to slay the Turks. As a man he took the position as a colporteur, not to sell Bibles, but to secure passport and entrance among the Turkish people. With the fires of murder smoldering in his soul he slipped across the Mediterranean from Egypt, (where he had temporarily gone). Then God met him. He was saved. Immediately he found nothing in his heart but love for the Turks-He sought to save them. He risked his life in their behalf. He stood in our pulpit and with great compassion pled in behalf of missions to the Mohammedans and to the Turkish people. His plea was genuine. Those he once hated, he loved. He was ready to take the life everlasting to those who had brought death and destruction to his own home. This is suffering as a Christian should suffer, and as Christ also suffered.

This is a novelty in suffering. It is incomprehensible to the world. When B. H. Carroll, the noted Texas preacher, as a youth, filled with infidelity and agnosticism, read the 53d chapter of Isaiah and beheld, not so much the suffering of Christ, as the way with which He suffered, his heart was broken. He said, "This One was indeed the Son of God," and he believed and yielded to Him his life and his all.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR