Within the Ranks
Mary Wilder Tileston encourages believers to view suffering as a lawful department of life, where they can discover new experiences, interests, and adventures, and to endure patiently and strongly like those who have come before them.
Mary Wilder Tileston preaches about the inevitability of facing trials and suffering as part of the Christian journey, encouraging believers to not be surprised by these challenges but to rejoice in sharing in Christ's sufferings. She emphasizes the transformative nature of suffering, likening it to a call to join a great army that opens up a world of love and pain, urging listeners to endure with patience and strength as those who came before them did. Tileston highlights that suffering is not a random occurrence but a significant aspect of life that reveals unique experiences, interests, and adventures that can only be discovered through enduring trials.
Text
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings.
--1 PETER 4:12, 13
NOT more than I can bear I know
Thou, dearest Lord, wilt on me lay,
And I can learn of Thee to go
Unfearing on my way.
--HARRIET MCEWEN KIMBALL
IT is a tremendous moment when first one is called upon to join the great army of those who suffer. That vast world of love and pain opens suddenly to admit us one by one within its fortress. We are afraid to enter into the land, yet you will, I know, feel how high is the call. It is as a trumpet speaking to us, that cries aloud, "It is your turn--endure." Play your part. As they endured before you, so now, close up the ranks--be patient and strong as they were. Since Christ, this world of pain is no accident untoward or sinister, but a lawful department of life, with experi.ences, interests, adventures, hopes, delights, secrets of its own. These are all thrown open to us as we pass within the gates--things that we could never learn or know or see, so long as we were well. God help you to walk through this world now opened to you, as through a kingdom, royal, and wide and glorious.
--HENRY SCOTT HOLLAND
Sermon Outline
- The Call to Suffering
- Enduring as Those Before Us
- A New Perspective on Suffering
- Understanding suffering as a lawful department of life
- Discovering new experiences, interests, and adventures in suffering
Key Quotes
“It is a tremendous moment when first one is called upon to join the great army of those who suffer.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“Play your part. As they endured before you, so now, close up the ranks--be patient and strong as they were.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“God help you to walk through this world now opened to you, as through a kingdom, royal, and wide and glorious.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
Application Points
- We can learn to be patient and strong in the midst of suffering by looking to those who endured before us and by trusting in God's help and guidance.
- Viewing suffering as a lawful department of life helps us to understand its purpose and meaning, and to find new experiences, interests, and adventures in it.
- We are called to play our part in the ranks of the suffering, and to close up the ranks by being patient and strong like those who endured before us.