Bible Study by E. Aslaksen, May 1, 1921

Hebrews 10:32-39

“But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings . . . .” V. 32.

What enables us to endure sufferings? We avoid sufferings because we are in darkness; we do not know what we are doing. If we had light, we would never do that. Therefore Jesus prayed for those who crucified Him: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Luke 23:34.

“You . . . joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.” Heb. 10:34.

How do I react when my china cup breaks? If I lose my composure because of it, how can I then joyfully accept the plundering of my goods? However, if I am sufficiently enlightened so that I know that he who plunders me and the one who is being plundered belongs to me—even heaven and earth and everything—then I can accept it joyfully.

God wants to get at my self-life; that is what He wants to have broken and crushed. When I get up in the morning, I can say to myself: “I wonder what will happen today that will break my will?” Every morning and every evening I can say to myself: “Now it is vital that my self-will is bowed and crushed. Everything revolves around this one thing. The extent to which I forsake my own will is precisely the extent to which I partake of the glory of Jesus Christ. This is the key to man’s progress in God. For some people it can take years—they can be pleasant, but you are aware of so little progress in their lives. This is the cause. They don’t have the mind to give up their own will. Let us imagine a number of people—strong people with strong wills—who come together, each one with his own opinions, but that they all give up their own will! That is power; that is strength. This is what it means to bear the cross of Jesus Christ which we are to bear from morning until evening, and from evening until morning all life long. It is said that things cannot always go well. When sickness and death occur, people say, “Now we have received our cross.” Let us first take up the cross that we have been commanded to take up. Let us begin there to give up our self-will; for example, a wife toward her husband and a servant toward his master. We can jump right into it for we know what we should do. If we hesitate on this point, we doubt God’s goodness altogether. Then we belong among the unbelieving. The person who says “Yes” and “But” to his master, who opposes him, does not oppose a man, but God Himself. For it is God who has decided that a wife shall be in submission to her husband and that a servant shall be obedient to his master. If He is wrong, then it is His business. We cannot jump right into something that is not a direct command. There we need to be careful.

“Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” V. 38.

It is not written that Jesus will have nothing more to do with the person who draws back, but that He has no pleasure in him, which means that he is no longer interested in him.

How shall I lay hold of this faith in God so that I give up my own will and surrender it into death? By hearing His voice, which I hear best when I am alone by myself on a bench! Faith comes by hearing. Rom. 10:17. It doesn’t come because of my fighting, and not by my efforts, but quite simply by making use of God’s Word, meditating on it, reflecting on it, and wearing it out until I say, “Now I have it, now I understand it!” The victory of faith is not gained at the moment I am confronted by my enemies, but an hour, a day, some time before, so that when the trial comes, the victory has already been won in the heart.

When we give up our own will, deny ourselves, take up the cross, and follow Him, then Jesus Christ is our brother; then we walk in the steps in which He walked; then we share all things with Him. The thought of this produces the greatest consolation and strength for enduring sufferings.