'Because, according as the sufferings of the Christ abound unto us, so,

through Christ, abounds also our encouragements'.

While it is imperative that there should be a clear understanding that the

sufferings of Christ that were endured by Him on our behalf were unique, and

can be shared by no man, we have already seen that there are some of the

Lord's sufferings that His people may share:

'Christ also hath suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye

should follow His steps ... Who, when He was reviled, reviled not

again; when He suffered, threatened not; but committed Himself to Him

that judgeth righteously' (1 Pet. 2:21 -23).

'Rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that,

when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding

joy' (1 Pet. 4:13).

Turning from this important aspect of sacrifice in service, we pause to

consider the apostle's testimony as recorded in 2 Corinthians chapter 12.

'And lest I should be exalted above measure, through the abundance of

the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a

messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above

measure' (2 Cor. 12:7).

Of all the things the servant of Christ has most to dread is self -

exaltation.  We believe that there are readers of An Alphabetical Analysis

who consider its testimony unique.  It has necessarily its characteristics

peculiar to itself, seeing it is mostly the product of one pen.  Sometimes as

we sit at study and write these articles, or as we wrestle with some

difficulty or discover some structure, we have felt how good it would be if

we only knew that this or that effort had been of help to one or another.

This knowledge has for the most part been mercifully kept from us.  We have

been permitted a fair share of buffeting; folk seem more keen to write* and

tell us that we are wrong than to tell us that we are right, and 2

Corinthians 12:7 -10 assures us that this is good for ourselves, good for our

testimony and good for His glory.  The greatest evil that could befall us

would be spiritual pride, and what we do know of ourselves does not at the

moment make us feel very self -satisfied, so really all is well.  If there is

to be any praise, we prefer that it shall be deferred until 'that day' when

spiritual pride will be impossible.  So important was the spiritual fitness

of Paul to the church, that to counterbalance the abundance of the

revelations he had received, a special spiritual buffeting was allowed, and

when he realized its purpose, he was the first to acquiesce.  Anyone who can

write publicly 'lest I be exalted above measure' is in the way of grace;

spiritual pride does not recognize its own face in the mirror of the Word.

*

Since writing these series, the Lord has graciously permitted a

glimpse.  We know that a greater number have been blessed than we dared to

With these comments we bring this study to a close.  It might be

pursued further with profit.  Much more will be found in the epistles than we

have even touched upon, and there is still the Gospels and the typical

teaching of The Old Testament as unexplored territory.  We have accomplished

our object, however, if we have convinced the reader that sacrifice is an

essential element in all true service, and that the yielding of our bodies as

living sacrifices is indeed ... 'reasonable service'.