March 29
Morning
"Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things
which he suffered." — Heb_5:8
We are told that the Captain of our salvation was made perfect through
suffering, therefore we who are sinful, and who are far from being perfect,
must not wonder if we are called to pass through suffering too. Shall the head
be crowned with thorns, and shall the other members of the body be rocked upon
the dainty lap of ease? Must Christ pass through seas of his own blood to win
the crown, and are we to walk to heaven dryshod in silver slippers? No, our
Master's experience teaches us that suffering is necessary, and the true-born
child of God must not, would not, escape it if he might. But there is one very
comforting thought in the fact of Christ's "being made perfect through
suffering"-it is, that he can have complete sympathy with us. "He is
not an high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our
infirmities." In this sympathy of Christ we find a sustaining power. One
of the early martyrs said, "I can bear it all, for Jesus suffered, and he
suffers in me now; he sympathizes with me, and this makes me strong."
Believer, lay hold of this thought in all times of agony. Let the thought of
Jesus strengthen you as you follow in his steps. Find a sweet support in his
sympathy; and remember that, to suffer is an honourable thing-to suffer for
Christ is glory. The apostles rejoiced that they were counted worthy to do
this. Just so far as the Lord shall give us grace to suffer for Christ, to
suffer with Christ, just so far does he honour us. The jewels of a Christian
are his afflictions. The regalia of the kings whom God hath anointed are their
troubles, their sorrows, and their griefs. Let us not, therefore, shun being
honoured. Let us not turn aside from being exalted. Griefs exalt us, and
troubles lift us up. "If we suffer, we shall also reign with him."
Hebrews 5:8
he were: Heb_1:5,
Heb_1:8, Heb_3:6
yet: Heb_10:5-9;
Isa_50:5-6; Mat_3:15; Joh_4:34,
Joh_6:38, Joh_15:10;
Php_2:8
Evening
"I called him, but he gave me no answer." — Son_5:6
Prayer sometimes tarrieth, like a petitioner at the gate, until the
King cometh forth to fill her bosom with the blessings which she seeketh. The
Lord, when he hath given great faith, has been known to try it by long
delayings. He has suffered his servants' voices to echo in their ears as from a
brazen sky. They have knocked at the golden gate, but it has remained
immovable, as though it were rusted upon its hinges. Like Jeremiah, they have
cried, "Thou hast covered thyself with a cloud, that our prayer should not
pass through." Thus have true saints continued long in patient waiting
without reply, not because their prayers were not vehement, nor because they
were unaccepted, but because it so pleased him who is a Sovereign, and who
gives according to his own pleasure. If it pleases him to bid our patience
exercise itself, shall he not do as he wills with his own! Beggars must not be
choosers either as to time, place, or form. But we must be careful not to take
delays in prayer for denials: God's long-dated bills will be punctually
honoured; we must not suffer Satan to shake our confidence in the God of truth
by pointing to our unanswered prayers. Unanswered petitions are not unheard.
God keeps a file for our prayers-they are not blown away by the wind, they are
treasured in the King's archives. This is a registry in the court of heaven
wherein every prayer is recorded. Tried believer, thy Lord hath a tear-bottle
in which the costly drops of sacred grief are put away, and a book in which thy
holy groanings are numbered. By-and-by, thy suit shall prevail. Canst thou not
be content to wait a little? Will not thy Lord's time be better than thy time?
By-and-by he will comfortably appear, to thy soul's joy, and make thee put away
the sackcloth and ashes of long waiting, and put on the scarlet and fine linen
of full fruition.
Song of
Solomon 5:6
but my: Psa_30:7;
Isa_8:17, Isa_12:1,
Isa_50:2, Isa_54:6-8;
Hos_5:6, Hos_5:15;
Mat_15:22-28; Rev_3:19
my soul: Son_5:2,
Son_5:4; Gen_42:28;
2Sa_16:10; Psa_69:3, Psa_77:3;
Isa_57:16; Mat_26:75; Mar_14:72;
Luk_22:61-62
I sought: Son_3:1-2;
1Sa_28:6; Psa_22:1-2,
Psa_28:1, Psa_80:4,
Psa_88:9-14; Isa_58:2-4, Isa_58:7-9;
Lam_3:8; Zec_7:13
Daily Devotions.
Extract from
e-Sword- the sword of the LORD with an
electronic edge.
Through the Bible Day by Day.(F.B Meyer)
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