Compare Your Sufferings

Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. —Hebrews 12:3.

There is the controlling factor of the Christian race—focusing and keeping one’s mind on the endurance of Jesus Christ. The word consider (analogizomai) means to compare, reckon, count up, weigh. Believers are to focus upon Jesus Christ and His sufferings and compare and weigh them against their sufferings. Christ endured so much more than we have to endure. Let any orphan, widow, criminal, prostitute, slave, or sufferer—any person whatsoever compare himself with all this, and remember Jesus bore all this:

⇒ being born to an unwed mother (Mt. 1:18–19).

⇒ being born in a stable, the worst of conditions (Lu. 2:7).

⇒ being born to poor parents (Lu. 2:24).

⇒ having his life threatened as a baby (Mt. 2:13f).

⇒ being the cause of unimaginable sorrow (Mt. 2:16f).

⇒ having to be moved and shifted as a baby (Mt. 2:13f).

⇒ being reared in a despicable place, Nazareth (Lu. 2:39).

⇒ having His father die during His youth (see note, pt. 3—Mt. 13:53–58).

⇒ having to support His mother, brothers, and sisters (see note, pt. 3—Mt. 13:53–58).

⇒ having no home, not even a place to lay His head (Mt. 8:20; Lu. 9:58).

⇒ being hated and opposed by religionists (Mk. 14:1–2).

⇒ being charged with insanity (Mk. 3:21).

⇒ being charged with demon possession (Mk. 3:22).

⇒ being opposed by His own family (Mk. 3:31–32).

⇒ being rejected, hated, and opposed by audiences to whom He spoke (Mt. 13:53–58; Lu. 4:28–29).

⇒ being betrayed by a close friend (Mk. 14:10–11, 18).

⇒ being left alone, rejected, and forsaken by all His friends (Mk. 14:50).

⇒ being tried before the high court of the land on the charge of treason (Jn. 18:33).

⇒ being executed by crucifixion, the worst possible death (Jn. 19:16f).

Take note of why we should compare our sufferings with the suffering of Christ. It keeps us from becoming weary, that is, exhausted, tired, worn out, and relaxing when we should be working; and it also keeps us from fainting in our minds, that is, from losing heart and becoming discouraged and despondent, from drawing back and giving up.

Keep your head up. Keep fighting and scrapping. Don’t look back. Think on the things of Jesus.

One of my favorite hymns I sing to myself when things seem to be bleak and down trodden is “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”.

“Turn you eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face; and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”