July 3

“If we suffer we shall also reign with Eim.” — 2 Timotly ii. 12.

M:^,E must not imagine that we are suffering for Christ, and with Christ, if we are not in Christ. Beloved friend, are you trusting to Jesus only? If notp whatever you may have to mourn over on earth, you are not “suffering with Christ,” and have no hope of reigning with Hiin in heaven. Neither are we to conclude that all a Christian’s suflFerings are sufferings with Christ, for it is essential that he be called by God to suffer. If we are rash and imprudent, and run into positions for which neither providence nor grace has fitted us, we ought to question whether we are not rather sinning than communing with Jesus. If we let pasuon take the place of judgment, and self-will reign instead of scriptural authority, we shall fight the Lord’s battles with the devil’s weapons, and if we cut our own fingers we must act be surprised. Again, in troubles which come upon us as he result of sin, we must tiot dream that we are suffering with Christ. When Miriam spoke evil of Moses, and the leprosy polluted her, she was not suffering for God. Moreover, suffering which God accepts must have God’s glory as its end. If I suffer that I may earn a name, or win applause, I shall get no other reward than that of the Pharisee. It is requisite, also, that love to Jesus, and love to His elect, be ever the mainspring of all our patience. We must manifest the spirit of Christ in meekness, gentleness, and forgiveness. Let us search and see if we truly suffer with Jesus. And if we do thus suffer, what is our “light afiliction” compared with reigning with Him? Oh, it is so blessed to be in the furnace with Christ, and such an honor to stand in the pillory with Him, that if there were no future reward, we might count ourselves happy in present honor; but when the recompense is so eternal, so infinitely more than we had any right to expect, shall we not take up the cross with alacrity, and go ODour way rejoicing?