MYSTERY OF SUFFERING (cont.) Our Father’s full giving is only begun. His love has no limit; His grace has no measure; His power no boundary known unto men: For out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth and giveth and giveth again.” “ Tribulation Worketh Patience ” There is another reason why God sometimes sends affliction. He knows the value of experience in developing stalwart Christian character and in bringing out the fullest expression of the Christian graces. Of many pas sages from His Word along this line, two are almost identical: one from the pen of Paul; the other, from James. Let us read these two Scrip ture portions carefully: “We glory in tribulation also: know ing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and exper ience, hope; and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Rom. 5:3-5). “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations (or ‘trials’ ) ; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire (or ‘mature and complete’ in the Chris tian experience), wanting nothing” (James 1:2-4). It is not an easy thing to “ glory” or rejoice in tribulations, to “ count it all joy” when manifold trials come. Only the grace of God can teach us to receive trouble with joy, knowing that so received it makes us more like our risen Lord, and enables us to glo rify Him. It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit in the heart that we can receive trouble so. Another text bearing upon this same truth is found in Proverbs 3:12 and quoted in Hebrews 12:6. “Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth.” The thought here implied in “ chastening” is not that of punishment, but rather of “ child-training.” Let us read it like this: “Whom the Lord loveth he child- trains.” What a world of comfort we find in the thought! A kind Father in heaven, knowing how impatient and impetuous we are, wants us to become kind and patient and gracious. And one way of accomplishing this for us and in us is by permitting the fires of testing to bum up the dross. This is what Job meant when he said, “He knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come
forth as gold” (Job 23:10). Have you ever wondered at the placid, calm, untroubled spirit of some mature Christian, perhaps some elder ly saint, who has gone through great sorrow? Have you ever marvelled at the child-like faith of such a Chris tian? His or her presence is a bene diction to young and old. Such an one has learned through long exper ience that “tribulation worketh pa tience.” He has learned to rejoice in trials, since trials so received make him more conscious of God’s grace, more like Him who suffered and died to redeem him from sin. Such a Chris tian can be used of God in service for His name’s sake. Suffering Prepares the Christian for Service Trouble rightly used fits us for service now and in the life to come. First let us see how we can, in this present life, serve God better because of trials joyfully received. Paul wrote to the Corinthian Chris tians, saying: “ Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort where with we ourselves are comforted of God” (II Cor. 1:3,4). Have you won dered why God let sorrow come into your life, my Christian friend? He wants you to experience His own com fort, then in turn comfort others with the comfort wherewith you yourself have been comforted of God. I remember well how, some years ago, I went to the home of a young mother who had just lost her baby. She was not a Christian, and did not know the comfort of God in her sor row. I tried to point her to the Sav iour, but she was not open to receive the message. She doubted even the love of God in taking her little one from her. As I talked with her, she turned to me and said: “Mr. Talbot, you don’t know anything about a case like mine. You never lost a baby of your own.” And I had not. She seemed to think that settled the ques tion, and she was not persuaded to let the God of all comfort enter her heart. Just then the door opened, and an other mother came in, a Christian mother, who had also seen her own baby “ depart . . . to be with Christ.” At once she began to comfort the stricken parent “ with the comfort wherewith” she herself had been “ comforted of God.” And this minis try on the part of one who had been prepared for service through her own sorrow led a groping soul into a per
sonal knowledge of the Saviour who loves, even “ unto the uttermost.” Then again, our trials here on earth are a preparation for service in the millennial reign of Christ. Listen to such words as these: “The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Rom. 8:18). “ Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal” (II Cor. 4:17, 18). “ If we suffer, we shall also reign with him” (II Tim. 2:12). “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation (or ‘trials’ ): for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him” (James 1:12). “ Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Rev. 2 : 10 ). “And I (John) saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not wor shipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years” (Rev. 20:4). My dear suffering saint, “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy com- eth in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). “ They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him” (Psalm 126:5, 6). “ God shall wipe away all tears . . . there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain” (Rev. 21:4). Since trials prepare us for greater service now and in the glory, since heaven and rest and the presence of the Lord will be all the richer because of His “ child-training” here on earth, let us, like the apostles of old, rejoice that we are “ counted worthy to suffer” for His sake who was the Man of Sorrows — for us! “Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.” The “ God of all comfort” “ giveth songs in the night” (II Cor. 1:3; Job 35:10). END.
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THE KING'S BUSINESS
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