July 29

Results through suffering

“He laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:16).
“Neither will I offer . . . unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing” (2 Sam. 24:24).

I have observed during all those years of evangelistic labor, that invariably when I have enjoyed most blessing in the work, I have suffered the greatest hardships; and, on the other hand, when I have been dined, and feasted, and carried shoulder high, there has been little good done.
—Duncan Matheson


We do real good to others only at cost of self. Christ blessed the world, not by an easy, pleasant, prosperous life in it, but by suffering and dying in it and for it; and we can never bless the world merely by having a good time in it.
Work for others that costs us nothing is scarcely worth doing. At least it takes heart’s blood to heal hearts. Too many of us are ready to work for Christ and do good to our fellowmen only so long as it is very easy, and requires no self-sacrifice or self-denial. But if we stop there, we stop just where our service is likely to become of use.
This saving of life proves, in the end, the losing of it. It is they who sow in tears that shall reap in joy. We may take easy work, if we will, work that costs us nothing, that involves no pain or self-denial, but we must not then be surprised if our hands are empty in the great harvest time.

Christ leads me through no darker rooms
Than He went through before;
He that into God’s kingdom comes,
Must enter by His door.
Come, Lord, when grace has made me meet
Thy blessed face to see;
For if Thy work on earth be sweet,
What will Thy glory be?
—Richard Baxter.

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