Evening, July 3

Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings

"If we suffer, we shall also reign with him."

  2 Timothy 2:12

   We 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 not, whatever you may have to mourn over on earth, you are not
   "suffering with Christ," and have no hope of reigning with him in
   heaven. Neither are we to conclude that all a Christian's sufferings
   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
   passion 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 not be
   surprised. Again, in troubles which come upon us as the result of sin,
   we must not 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 affliction"
   compared with reigning with him? Oh it is so blessed to be in the
   furnace with Christ, and such an honour to stand in the pillory with
   him, that if there were no future reward, we might count ourselves
   happy in present honour; 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 on our way rejoicing?