三月二十九日

他雖然為兒子，還是因所受的苦難學了順從。（來5:8）

我們的救主因受苦而得以完全，因此我們這些有罪的人，距完全尚遠的人，當經過苦難時也不要以為希奇。頭上戴著荊冕，其他肢體會在歡樂窩中安享清福嗎？基督必須經過流血的苦海贏得冠冕，我們的腳會一塵不染地安抵天堂嗎？不，我們主的經驗使我們知道受苦是必須的，真被神所生的孩子，就是當他能夠逃避的時候，不當，也不可逃避苦難。但基督“因受苦難得以完全”的事實很可安慰我們，那就是說他能完全同情我們：“我們的大祭司並非不能體恤我們的軟弱。”我們現在仍可感動基督這一種體恤的力量。早先一位為主捨命的人說：“這一切我都能擔當，因耶穌曾受苦。現在他在我裡面受苦，他同情我，因此能使我剛強起來。”信徒啊！在苦痛之中要想到這一句話。讓這話的意思在你跟著耶穌的腳蹤走的時候，作你的力量。你要從他的體恤得到支持，並要想到受苦是一件光榮的事——為基督所受的苦是榮耀的。使徒們因為被算是配為這名受苦受辱，心裡就滿了歡喜。主賜我們為基督並與基督受苦的恩，那是他所給我們的尊榮。基督徒的珍珠就是他所受的苦難。神膏君王的記號就是他們的困難、憂傷和苦痛。因此，讓我們不要逃避這尊榮，讓我們不要舍掉被高舉的機會。悲傷高舉我們，困難高抬我們。

“我們和他一同受苦，也必和他一同得榮耀。”

March 29

"Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered." --Hebrews 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."