Full and entire consecration to God is required of us.
While the Redeemer of sinful mortals was laboring and suffering for us, He denied Himself, and His whole life was one continued scene of toil and privation.
Had He chosen to do so, He could have passed His days on earth in ease and plenty, and appropriated to Himself all the pleasures and enjoyments of this life. But He did not; He considered not His own convenience. He lived not to gratify Himself, but to do good and to save others from suffering, to help those who most needed help. He endured to the end.
The chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and He hath borne the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:5, 6.
The bitter cup was apportioned to us to drink. Our sins mingled it.
But our dear Saviour took the cup from our lips and drank it Himself; and in its stead, He presents to us a cup of mercy, blessing, and salvation.
Oh, what an immense sacrifice was this for the fallen race! What love, what wondrous and matchless love!
After all this manifestation of suffering to show His love, shall we shrink from the small trials we have to bear?
Can we love Christ, and refuse to lift the cross? See Luke 9:23.
Can we love to be with Him in glory, and not follow Him even from the judgment hall to Calvary?
If Christ be in us the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27), we shall walk even as He walked (1 John 2:6); we shall imitate His life of sacrifice to bless others (1 Peter 2:21); we shall drink of the cup, and be baptized with the baptism (Matthew 20:22); we shall welcome a life of devotion, trial, and self-denial, for Christ’s sake (Philippians 1: 29).
Heaven will be cheap enough, whatever sacrifice we may make to obtain it.
"But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ." Philippians 3:7, 8.
"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:17, 18.
"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne." Revelation 3:21.
"Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." Revelation 22:14.
