August 28

Perfect through sufferings. — HEB. ii. 10.

Get thee behind me, Satan, thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. — MATT. xvi. 23.

THIS is our Lord's answer to Peter at Cæsarea Philippi. It is the same as his answer to the Devil in the wilderness. The temptations were the same; namely, to gain the blessings of the kingdom without the cross. It is a temptation that comes to us as followers of Jesus. Our answer must be the same. In this world of sin salvation can only be gained by sacrifice. In Jesus' case it was absolutely necessary for him to suffer in order to save men; so sacrifice is necessary for us. We must take up our cross and follow Jesus. What that cross shall be he only can determine. He alone knows our characters; he would perfect them. He alone knows our destiny; he would educate and fit us for it. He alone knows how we can best glorify our Father, and so gives us the opportunity. When, then, his loving heart has prepared, and his hand has brought some cross for us to bear, let us know that all temptation to complain and resist is satanic, and let us bear it with patient cheerfulness, knowing that "all things work together for good" to his people.

E. H. Barnett.

Must Jesus bear the cross alone,

And all the world go free?

No, there's a cross for every one,

And there's a cross for me.

That consecrated cross I'll bear

Till Christ shall set me free;

And then go home, my crown to wear,

For there's a crown for me.

THOMAS SHEPHERD (altered).