LOOK at Paul, that useful, faithful and honored servant of the Lord! Why is he shut up in prison? Why that bleeding back through cruel scourging? Why that chain upon his leg, chafing the skin at almost every turn? Why is this great apostle of the Gentiles hungry, and so shivering with the cold as to long again for the cloak which he had left at Troas? Ah! how wonderful are the ways of God! There is no mistake. It is indeed well. Not only does all work for good, but his Master, who has all power, and loves His devoted servant perfectly and unchangeably, is leading by the right way. The vessel must be broken for the light to shine out. The apostle is the Lord’s servant. Divine truth can only be really learned in a divine way, and the faithful messenger now tastes what he, by grace, had so ardently desired, “the fellowship of His sufferings,” and proves the sufficiency of the Master’s grace for every step in the path of His rejection.
Divinely-inspired communications had also to be given to the whole church of God, and vessels can only be fitted for such elevated work who are outside the camp with Christ, and find no home here where He was rejected; or, like another, be fitted for the Master’s use in the banishment and privacy of barren Patmos. And must not the path of sorrow and of rejection with Christ be known still, if any would be in the current of His thoughts, and in the circle of His affections? Besides, did not such an honored and extensive service as Paul’s, who, among other things, had “the care of all the churches,” necessitate his being much alone with the Lord?
According to man’s way of calculating, Paul’s becoming a prisoner would stop all his usefulness, but it was far from that. Even at Philippi, we know how wondrously God used the prisoner’s testimony to the jailor’s conversion. At Rome, while detained as “the prisoner of the Lord,” he was used by the Lord to write the letters to the Philippian saints, to the Ephesians, Colossians, Philemon, and also to Timothy, by which sacred writings he has been the honored instrument of ministering to believers from that day until now, and surely this will continue till the Lord come. Thus his usefulness did not suffer, but was vastly increased by his suffering and banishment, and the Lord put much honor upon him. He so saw all his affairs in the hand of the Lord, that he could speak of Himself as “the prisoner of the Lord,” and of his personal sufferings, as filling up the afflictions of Christ for His body’s sake, which is the church.
Another marvelous blessing which he tells us resulted from his afflictions was, that he learned “consolation by Christ” in a way he could not otherwise have done. He says, “As the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. (2 Cor. 1:55For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. (2 Corinthians 1:5).) This is of untold value to the soul, and eminently fits us for service to others; for having learned in our own experience the blessed way in which the Lord has met us, sustained, delivered, and blessed us in our sorrow and trial, we are able to minister consolation to others when we meet with those who are called to walk in a path similar to that which we ourselves have trodden.” Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” (2 Cor. 1:3, 43Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. (2 Corinthians 1:3‑4).)
It has been said that “an untried saint is always an unsavory saint,” for when exercised before the Lord in the trouble; we have, we learn the more thoroughly to distrust ourselves, to have no confidence in the flesh, and we prove that all our springs and blessings are in the Lord Jesus Christ. In this way, we become more and more weaned from the world, attracted to things above where Christ sitteth, and we prove the “need be” there is for “heaviness”; the word of God becomes fulfilled in our experience, faith grows, and the affections of our hearts turn more readily and more constantly to the Object given to us. Of saints, in great and manifold trials, it was said, “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” (1 Peter 1:88Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: (1 Peter 1:8).)
All believers must have trouble sooner or later, for our Lord said, “In the world ye shall have tribulation,” but, even then, He would have us have peace in Himself, and “be of good cheer,” in the consciousness that He has gone before us, and “overcome the world.” (John 16:3333These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33).) Besides,
“It needs our hearts be weaned from earth,
It needs that we be driven,
By loss of every earthly stay, To find our rest in heaven.”
But there is another reason why Paul was so troubled. Though “not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles,” yet he was a man of like passions with ourselves. Though he was “a man in Christ” and “not in the flesh,” the flesh in which is nothing good was in him.
He had been caught up to the third heaven, had seen and heard such wonderful things as could not be described by human language; he had also received from the Lord an “abundance of revelations,” so that he was in danger of being “puffed up.” A messenger of Satan was therefore given to him, “a thorn in the flesh” to buffet him, which produced intense mental anguish and deep soul-exercise, and kept him down at the Lord’s feet. He prayed again and again to the Lord that it might depart from him, but his request was not granted. The buffeting must be endured, the path of humiliation and anguish must be trodden, the cross must be taken up daily, but the Lord who loved him, and gave Himself for him would be with him, and would not fail him in it. He said, “My grace is sufficient for thee; for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Through this path of suffering, Paul learned deeply precious lessons, and, among others, not to grumble about his painful and trying circumstances; but to take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake, for, said he, “When I am weak, then am I strong.” (2 Cor. 12:2-102I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. 3And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) 4How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. 6For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. 7And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. (2 Corinthians 12:2‑10).)
Many dear saints are at this moment suffering in various ways, and surely the inquiry of each should be, “What is the Lord saying to me in this?” He would certainly not have us careful, nor fearful, but would have us exercise faith in Himself about the trial. He says, “Let not your heart be troubled, ye believe in God, believe also in Me”; and again, “Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” We are to roll all that troubles us upon Him who careth for us, so as to be without having the “care” or “fear” of it in our hearts. The trial is none the less real. But we are to be “exercised” about it; and blessing is promised as the result. “No chastening (or discipline) for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.” (Heb. 12:1111Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. (Hebrews 12:11))
As to persecution, reproach, and suffering for Christ’s sake we are told: “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified.” This kind of suffering all the faithful are called to expect, for “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” This must be so, for we are in a world where everything is contrary to the obedience of faith, and “is not of the Father, but is of the world” (2 Tim. 3:1212Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (2 Timothy 3:12)., Philippians 1:2929For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; (Philippians 1:29)., 1 John 2:1616For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. (1 John 2:16).)
Nor should it be forgotten that we have also sufferings in common with other believers. “The same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” (1 Peter 5:99Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. (1 Peter 5:9).) Redemption is not yet applied to our bodies, so that if a man is converted with a diseased body, we should not be surprised if the disease runs its regular course; or, if he lives in a country where there is war, famine, or pestilence, there will most likely be suffering, if not directly, yet in consequence of these things. But it is our sweet privilege in every trial to make our requests known unto God, to rest in the precious truth that God is for us, and to count upon His power and goodness to us-ward on all such occasions; and in some way or other we shall prove that “Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.” It is always true of us that
“Not a single shaft can hit,
Till the God of love sees fit.”
The hairs of our heads are all numbered. We are of more value than many sparrows. We never cease to be objects of the Father’s perfect love. He withdraws not His eyes from the righteous; and all things work together for our good. The great Shepherd of the sheep never slumbers nor sleeps. His care of us never slackens, and He will never leave us, nor forsake us. Our Lord had suffering here; He was a “Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;” He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth. The apostles had suffering too, and have exhorted us to be patient, and to look for consolation in all our tribulation. It is well for us, when feeling the bitterness and suffering of our path, to be able so to fix our hearts upon the glorified Saviour, as to be able to say, “As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.”
May we be so guided and taught by the Holy Ghost, as to go through all the paths marked out for us with the Lord; and when we have to say, “Thy way is in the sea, and Thy path in the great waters, and Thy footsteps are not known,” still to go on leaning upon His grace and strength, and learning His mind by His word, with confidence in our Father’s faithfulness and love! Then we shall be able to add, “Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary; who is so great a god as our God?” H. H. S.