The Tupelo journal., 1903-12-18

~S ~
Jesus may be made manifest in your
body.
PUT suffering for Jesus sake goes be-
u yond mere fellowship. AS Paul puts
it in Colossians: Filling up that which
is behind OF the Affections of Christ"
Here is a beautiful thought, a wonderful
thought. What a sacred halo Of dignity
it throws about the suffering Of the
Christian-Paul suffering to make COM
plete the suffering Of Jesus! The atone
ment for sin upon the cross complete,
but the sufferings of Jesus made COM
plete through His disciples! The suffer-
ings OF the disciples to make more effec-
tive the Gospel of atonement! No WON
der Paul could say he rejoiced in his suf-
ferings. The disciple surely will always
find it dreary and hard to endure perse-
cution If self is the central thought in
that suffering, but let the inspired and
inspiring thought which Paul gives us
seize hold upon the heart, and instantly
a new light and Joy burns within; there
is a higher purpose in the suffering,
there is a more blessed fruitage. The
trial and affection which it seens as
though we could not endure will become
easy and fulfill a blessed ministry. Let
us seek for that experience of Paul which
can say: 81 rejoice in my sufferings,
and fill up that which is behind of the
Affections of Christ in my flesh for His
body's sake, which is the church" All
this was the meaning to Paul Of the
marks which he bore in his body. They
were the proofs Of his discipleship; they
testified of the prophecy of Jesus that
His disciples should suffer persecution;
they were the proof of Divine favor and
fellowship, and were the evidence of
that exalted privilege of filling out the
sufferings of Christ.
ME- may bear in our bodies the
w marks of the Lord, we may suf-
fer for His sake, we may endure Bit
ter persecution, but oh, see what He
has borne for us! The crow of thorns
pierced His brow, the nails tore through
the tender flesh of hands and feet, the
soldiers spear was thrust into His
side! And this was all for you and
me, that sin might be punished and we
go free. He became sin for us and en-
dured the awful darkness of that dying
hour that we might become the right
eousness of God through Him. Thomas
wanted to put his finger in the nail
prints and thrust his hand into His side
that he might be sure that it was in
very truth his Lord. We do not need
the proof of the doubling Thomas, for
we know that our Redeemer liveth, but
OH! we do need to remember the marks
which Jesus bears in His body for you
and for me. Those hands and those
feet, and that great bursting heart, were
never SO beautiful as when they bore
your sins and mine and when the pre-
cious blood flowed from that riven side.
Sin has been washed away, but the
scars which sin made in His precious
body shall remain forever. These are
what He bore back to Heaven, and to
the eyes of the redeemed sinner there
is nothing more sacred or beautiful.
pCT what marks are we bearing for
u our Lord? What is there in our
lives which is the evidence and proof
Of our discipleship? Are W. suffering
nothing, are we enduring no hardship
for His sake? Is human friendship
counted dearer than that Of the Divine
Lord and Master? Is the truth of the
Gospel Of less weight and value than
the wisdom and culture and refinement
of this world? Are the things of this
life of so great Importance that we must
spend all our time in the getting and
the enjoyment of them, with scarcely or
never a thought of the precious souls all
about us who are perishing in their sins?
What marks are you bearing in your
body of discipleship? Is the mark Of
the cross which Jesus has given you to
bear for Him liyid and fresh in your
shoulder, or have you laid aside the
cross to rest in ease? Are you feeling
the th-usts of persecution. which Jesus
said should be the lot of His followers?
If not, then consider carefully wherein
lies your proof of discipleship. If you
bear not your cross, Christ declares you
ARE not worthy of Him" If you escape
persecution and difficulty and hardship
by denying YOU Lord and refusing to
bear testimony for Him in the home.
upon the street, in office, shop and fac
tory, then hear your Lord say unto you:
whatsoever shall deny Me before men.
him will I also deny before My Father
which is in Heaven" In that vision Of
John of the Heavens, n of the elders
asks him: "Wha are these which are
arrayed in white robes. and whence
come they?" And John replies: Sir,
thou knowest. And he said to me:
These are they which came out Of great
tribulation. and have washed their
robes, and made them white in the
blood of the Lamb" Out through
great tribulation." Bearing the marks
! of the Lord Jesus in their bodies.
Would we stand in the midst of that
throng some day? 1t may be our privi-
lege, but c~ross-bearing must come be-
fore crown-wearing.
The Debt of Love.
DR.. Newell Dwight Hills says regard
-. I, 1z..z g., IT. ah;Jl~o- o,,l 49,