The Daily Devotion is taking from the updated edition of Morning by Morning.

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March 29

Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered.
Hebrews 5:8

By the pen of Charles Spurgeon:

Is it any wonder that if the Captain of our salvation was “made perfect” (Heb. 5:9) through suffering that we who are sinful and far from perfect should be called to suffer as well? If the Head was crowned with thorns, should the other parts of the body continually be bounced on the lap of luxury and ease? If Christ had to walk through seas of His own blood to win the crown, should we easily walk to heaven with totally dry feet in soft silver slippers?

Certainly not! Our Master’s experience teaches us suffering is necessary, and a truly born-again child of God must not escape it — and would not escape it, even if he could. But one very comforting thought in the fact that Christ was “made perfect” through suffering is that He now has complete sympathy with us. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses” (Heb. 4:15), and it is through His sympathy we find the power to sustain us when we suffer. In fact, one of the early Christian martyrs said, “I can bear it all, because Jesus suffered, and He suffers in me now. He sympathizes with me and this makes me strong.”

Dear believer, take hold of that thought in your times of agony. Allow the thought of Jesus’ sympathy to strengthen you as you follow in His steps. Find loving support in His sympathy, and remember: to suffer is an honorable thing, but to suffer for Christ is glory!

“The apostles left . . . rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering” (Acts 5:41). And as much as God gives us His grace to suffer for Christ, and with Christ, He equally graces us with honor. The jewels of a Christian are his afflictions, and the royal finery of the kings whom God has anointed is their troubles, sorrows, and heartbreaks.

Therefore, may we not shun being honored, nor turn away from being exalted, for troubles lift us up and sorrows exalt us. Remember — “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him” (2 Tim. 2:12 KJV).

By the pen of Jim Reimann:

Many in Christ’s church today have an unbiblical view of suffering. One can only wonder how first-century Christians would react to our lives of relative ease and comfort. Perhaps our view needs to change. Rather than hopelessly attempting to “name and claim” our suffering away, we should adopt the apostles’ view. They rejoiced “because they had been counted worthy of suffering”!

Suffering is a gift, a calling, and a blessing. And if, like Paul, we desire to know Christ, we will soon learn it will require the path of suffering. May the following truly become the prayer of our heart this morning:

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death. . . . All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained. Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.

Philippians 3:10, 15 – 17


Morning by Morning: The Devotions of Charles Spurgeon
Copyright © by James G. Reimann


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