Christian suffering

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Christ's suffering: An example to be followed by Christians?

I've read that we should reflect on Christ's suffering in order that we may imitate him. I also read that we should behave ourselves in our suffering as Jesus behaved.

So,
Christ in his sufferings was not without feeling, and therefore, we are also permitted to feel. Jesus complained to God and to man about his anxiety inflicted upon him from within and without, and yet remained with them. So, we to can also complain to God and man. To complain due to grief or sorrow is neither an expression of impatience nor of sorrow. Do not forsake the company of people, for woe to the person who is alone.
Jesus occupied himself with prayer, and thus, we must be engaged likewise. Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. James 5:13.

Most of this is taken from The book: The Christian's Reasonable Service. Author: Wilhelmus a Brakel

 

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Jesus considered all suffering as coming from God. So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?” John 18:11.
This is very comforting to me. Knowing God is in control of all things. And He is at work for our sanctification.

Therefore, we also ought to exercise faith in the providence of God and at all times learn to perceive it as the hand of God. To be assured of this requires diligent effort.

 

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Jesus persevered in faith and exercised it in his greatest darkness and desertion, saying even then, "My Father, My God."
Therefore, we likewise ought not to cast away our faith and liberty; the proper bearing of our cross must issue forth from them. If you succumb in faith, you will bear a double cross.

 

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Jesus persevered in the endurance of his suffering. He did not wish to resign until all had been finished. May patience also do its perfect work in us.
As we should not ask God for a reason why He deals so with us, but should rather be satisfied with the will of God, lest you be judging whether or not God's dealings with us are right, so we may llikewise not limit the Lord as to the time and duration of our suffering.

 

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Jesus comforted himself with the promise of a good outcome, keeping glory in view. For the joy set before him, he despised the shame and endured the cross. Therefore, we ought also to focus upon the promises, which are yea and amen. Enliven yourself with this; consider the state of glory, reflect upon eternal rest, joy, and felicity, for then the bearing of our afflictions will be easier, our conduct will be holier, and we will experience that they are but light afflictions which will pass shortly.

 

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Hold the suffering of Christ before you as an example to deal with the "old man" and to mortify sin. View the world and all sin with scorn and contempt; view them as hanging on the gallows and as being crucified. Crucify the flesh with the lusts thereof. How can we still engage in that for which Christ had to pay so bitterly? Will the love of Christ and the esteem for his suffering not arouse in you a holy vengeance in return, to afflict and put to death that which has caused Christ so much sorrow and put him to death? While thus holding Christ before you as an example and as a powerful motivation to mortify sin, Virtue and strength will go out from him due to union with the suffering Jesus by faith, which will enable you to proceed with the work of crucifying the flesh and mortifying sin, causing you to increase in strength for the task.
Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:11.

For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15.

 

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From this page 7, to page 10 is a warning to unbelievers in the hopes they will come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord.


An Exhortation to the Unconverted to Reflect upon the Suffering of Christ.

Unconverted friends, you also must come and attentively reflect upon the suffering of Christ in order to perceive, as in a mirror, what will befall you temporally as well as eternally if you do not repent.
May this reflection be a means to work repentance and faith in you.


I therefore address myself to you who, as of yet, are ignorant of sin in its abomination and bitter nature and do not percieve and feel your misery, but live in sin and delight, esteeming the same as long as it is delightful and does no harm, while having no regard for whether of not this is sin.

I address myself to you to burrow in the earth as a mole - the one to make a living, the other for riches, another for honor, respect, or status, doing so as if all depended on this. Your thoughts only focus upon this; all your concerns and desires relate to this. you have nothing else in view and you labor for nothing but this.

 

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I address myself to you who, as of yet, do not feel what a dreadful condition it is to miss God, to be separated from Him, to live forgetful of Him, not realizing how blessed a state it is to be reconciled with God and to have communion with Him. As a result of this you are neither troubled by the one nor desire the other.

I address myself to you who, as of yet, are ignorant of the necessity of satisfaction of divine justice, and are of the opinion that if you but feel remorse over the commission of grievous sins and if you but pray for forgiveness, all will be well.

 

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I address myself to you who, as of yet, do not know Christ as Surety who satisfied for the sins of those who will be saved\; to you who are ignorant of the manner in which one receives Christ by faith, and have neither wrestlings nor exercises of faith.

I address myself to you who live civil lives, frequently attend church, are baptized, partake of the Lord's Supper, and live in such a fashion that no one will be able to say anything against you, and who, on this basis, build your confidence that you will be saved.

Poor people! You are still dead in sins and trespasses, blind, without Christ, and stand without as far as salvation is concerned.

Come, therefore, and consider each detail of the suffering of Christ; search for the reasons why Christ had to suffer thus. Consider that this is only the portion of those who are converted, that is, for believers. Be sensibly convinced that you have no part in this, but that if you remain thus and die in this state, you will suffer the same to all eternity.
For is the righteousness of God is so provoked to wrath towards the Surety, due to the sins of the elect whom He has loved, with an everlasting love, how can you be of the opinion that you will go free? For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry? Luke 23:31.

 

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Conclude, therefore, with a lively impression that you are neither a partaker of Christ nor of all he has merited, but that you, as you now are, must eternally endure the absence of God and be subject to the dreadful and unbearable wrath of God. May God apply it to your heart and cause you to tremble and shudder. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, betake yourself to this Jesus, seek Him, and endeavor to believe in order to come to God through him and thus be saved. If you will not heed this, considering such fears to be the anxiety of a coward; and if you turn your heart away from this, you will hear this read or read it yourself, proceed if you wish, but know that you have been warned, and that your condemnation will be the heavier.