April 21
Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him. Hebrews 5:8-9
I remember each time, in the situations of natural childbirth and food poisoning, surviving the pain by recognizing neither situation could compare to Christ's painful scourging and crucifixion on the cross. Seldom, when reflecting on being Christlike, do we concentrate on the task of learning obedience through suffering. Giving to the poor, helping the orphan and the widow, praying for the sick, loving our neighbor, even dying to self are more palatable characteristics to willing consider applying to our lives than suffering.
Billy Graham writes, in Unto These Hills, "Christ has left us an example. The Greek word used for example is derived from school life and refers to a pattern of writing to be copied by the children learning to write. Christ is our copybook. We look at Him and learn how suffering is to be borne. The New Testament, while insisting that the true purpose for which Jesus suffered was to deal with our sins, also points us to the suffering Savior as a pattern of how we, as His believing people, should endure our sufferings."
Graham draws attention to four aspects related to Christ's suffering:
1) His holy life....He committed no sin.
2) His guileless speech-no deceit was found in his mouth
3) His patient spirit- though insults were hurled at him he did not retaliate or make threats
4) His implicit faith- he entrusted himself to the One who judges justly.
These four points were all lived out last Tuesday by our daughter who suffered greatly through a painful, complicated and at times very frightening 15 hours of labor and emergency C-section delivery. She entrusted her life and the life of her baby to the Lord. As for her Mama...well, I certainly sinned by growing anxious and had a few "this is not fair" conversations with God. What happened to Jesus was not fair either.
Graham continues..."Yes, consider Him. In our sufferings and tribulations Jesus Himself must be our chief consideration. We must fix our eyes upon Him. He who suffered for us shows us how we are to bear our sufferings."
PT
God, your ways are best, but I wish suffering could have been omitted, although I recognize its worth in my own life. May our eyes go from the cross and the earthly stint we perform, to the resurrection and the lavish eternal life in heaven that will be grander than anything our eyes have ever beheld. In Jesus' Name, Amen
