than to most boys of his age. God in His wisdom is permitting the suffering. Who dares to say He is wrong? Then there is the case of one who, after a tragic romance in her youth, married when in her middle forties. Her husband, though a professing Christian, has made her life very miserable. He is short-tempered, cruelly lashing out at her for no apparent reason, and deliver ing long tirades against her for her real or imagined faults. God has given her the grace to take it with a quiet spirit. Her only comment is: “ The Lord knows I need it or He wouldn’t allow it.” How beautiful it is to see the way He is fashioning her into the likeness of His dear Son! “ For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for vour faults, ye shall take it patiently, but if, when you do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God” (1 Pet. 2:20). When a pastor loves his flock as my pastor does, it is heartbreaking to be criticized and maligned by them. When neither kith nor kin can understand, he shares the fellowship of Christ’s suffer ing, and the darkness of those days drive him closer to the great heart of God. “ If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? . . . Now no chastening for the present seem- eth to be joyous, but grievous: never theless afterward it yieldeth the peace able fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby” (Heb. 12:7, 11 ) . Spiritual Suffering “ That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conform able unto his death” (Phil. 3:10). During the last day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, “ If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink” . One day upon reading this passage, I suddenly saw in my mind’s eye, His face—more particularly His eyes. They were as a flame of Are, penetrating, searching, compassionate. It was then I realized as never before, that His suffering did not begin at Calvary. “ 0 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would, not!” (Luke 13:34). One day, while riding on the street car, I watched the unhappy faces of my fellow passengers. I became grieved at the coldness of my own heart, so I asked God to let me see them through His eyes. For an instant He did—until I cried, “ Lord, I can’t stand this!” I have never had the courage to ask Him for such a revelation since. There is no suffering comparable to mourning over the sins of others! Paul cried, “ My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.” Again he wrote, “ I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me wit- Page Sixteen
Anywhere?
By Mildred H. Corbett
The valley of pain and physical diffi culty taught its own lessons and formed the barrier from service in the home field as well as in foreign lands, but as a missionary enthusiast and educational worker it was fondly hoped that the vision was instilled in other hearts. My heart gained a vicarious thrill through correspondence with and prayers for the workers in many lands. The child in the home mission school was as my own-and when she went Home I was able to help the ones she left behind. Friends through the years — their prayers and fellowship—surely they were part of God’s will for me. Sunday school classes, long scattered but not forgotten on either side; I sowed the seed and the harvest is with Him. Tonight I looked back over months of incapacity and into months ahead when I would be laid aside from active service. “ Anywhere with Jesus”—yes I had been willing to serve Him, surely, but am I just as willing to suffer for Him, to lie quiet under the love of His chaste ning hand? The greater blessings and joys, the greater growth, may come when one waits quietly upon God and trusts when the way is dark ahead. No, the “ anywhere” hadn’t meant this to me before, but I will be willing to be with Him in the dark as well as in the light, and know that truly “ all things work together for good to them that love God.” As He leads me I will follow, with my hand in His. up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church.” Listen to the heart-cry of the great reformer, John Knox, “ Give me Scotland or I die!” Physical and mental suffering are dwarfed in comparison to this. The cost is terrific! But it seems to me to be the epitome of Christian living, and I fear that our Christian experience is actually beggarly without it! “ For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake” (Phil. 1:29). Why should Christians suffer? Why shouldn’t they? When they are tried, they shall come forth as gold! T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
A NYWHERE with Jesus I can safely go, Anywhere He leads me in this world below.” My eye caught the first sentences of the stirring hymn as I slowly turned the pages of an old songbook. I closed the book but I could not forget the words and sud denly they took on a different, a new, meaning. As a young girl I had sung with the hope of serving God in the foreign mis sion field. I had attended conventions and heard speakers in my local church and had been thrilled and awed with the hope of serving God in far distant places. In the college student volunteer group I told God I would go where He wanted me. Even before graduation the land of China seemed to be my destination and I applied for a certain position which had seemed to be laid upon my heart, and upon the hearts of others for me. This was my first disappointment. Still later the words took on added meaning in a home mission station, es pecially as I presented the service of God to other young people in the little mountain church. ness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my breth ren, my kinsmen according to the flesh.” Again he said, “ Brethren, my heart’s de sire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.” In his defense be fore King Agrippa, the king said (prob ably as a jest), “ In brief, you are con fident that you can make me a Chris.- tian” . Paul’s fervent answer was this: “ My prayer to God, whether briefly or at length would be that not only you but all who are my hearers today, might be come such as I am—except these chains” (Acts 26:28, 29 Weymouth). He wrote to the Christians at Colosse, “Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill
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