March 1927
135
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
Grasped one at a time by the faith of God’s child, they lift him out of deepest doubt into heart rest. The writer, some time since, was passing through a period of complete physical exhaustion, with all the men tal depression that attends such an experience when it seems there is much work to be done. A precious, book of Psalms, a heritage from a Godly father who had thumbed its pages and long since gone to be with his Lord, lay on the table at the bed side. Evening and morning God spoke to the inner man out of this Book, and day by day we were able to testify: “Thy grace is sufficient; thy strength is made perfect in weakness.” Lord, Lam too weak to lift my head, the soul had sighed, but the answer came: “The Lord is the lifter up of thy head.” ( Psa. 3:3).- I dread the nights—but He enabled the soul to say: “I will lay me down in peace and sleep! for Thou, Lord, makest me dwell in safety.” (Psa. 4:8). My heart is weak—-“Be of good courage and He shall strengthen thy. heart.” (Psa 27 :14). But, Lord, the way seems dark—“The Lord, thy God, will enlighten thy darkness” (,(18:28)>? I cannot do what I want to do —“ 1 will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go” (32 : 8 ). I am insufficient for the demands upon me—“Trust in Him and He will bring it to pass” (37:5). Lord, I am depressed by trials—“God is a very pre sent help in trouble” (46;1). “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him” (34:7). My burden seems too heavy— “Cast thy burden upon the Lord and He shall sustain thee” ' (55 :22). Oh Lord, I lack courage to face men —“The Lord zvill give grace and glory” (84:11). I am not in condition to stand the rebuffs of inconsiderate people-— “The Lord is thy defense; God is the rock of thy refuge” (94:22). I fear to go out, lest I should faint by the way-—-“The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore” ( 1 2 1 : 8 ). And so it seemed that there was no thought born in weakness that was not matched by some word of comfort from the Book, and moreover, in takingGod at His Word, we were able to go forward and accomplish all that was given us to do. We might place opposite each of His promises, as did a trusting Christian woman, the letters “T ” and “P ,” meaning “Tried and Proved.” “If God gives but a word, That word a work will prove, He will not change, nor be deterred, Nor from His purpose move. I “How many words of grace His promises contain! Each word must stand, nope can efface, ’! Nor bind with human chain. “Unbound!—in Christ made sure, 1 Each promise must come true! Then let each saint with praise endure, Refuse an earth-bound view.” “ I Never Lose Heart” N OT many can truthfully say that. Paul could say it because he lived a consciously victorious life in the most trying and discouraging ’circumstances. He was pressed by foes from inside as well as from out side, but he never lost heart. Sometimes he was -bewild ered and could not understand the actions of some of his converts, but never showed any signs of being conquered. Things were anything but encouraging in the church at Corinth. It was divided into factions and full of all
kinds of jealousies. Men were unclean and drunkenness had invaded the very courts of the house of God and cast its shadows on the Holy Supper. There were a thousand things to smother and kill the hosts of high resolves, inspiriting ideals and holy aspirations in his life, but he fainted not. And why? First , because he had the sense of a great life and res ponsibility. He was entrusted with a high and holy min istry—a ministry of revelation. The Spirit was Lord in his life and, therefore, with unveiled face, he was reflect ing the glory of the Lord and in this process was being transformed into His image. With an experience and a ministry like that he could not afford to lose heart. It is this- experience ‘and sense of mission and responsibility that is going to keep men from losing heart in this day of testing. Men are fainting and failing. The church is divided and shadows of an unclean and unholy life fall upon its very altars. Shall we lose heart because of these things? Christ has not failed and it is our responsibility to make this clear to a scoffing world. In the light of this responsibility we can not afford to lose heart. The more people fail and the darker the shadow of failure falls upon the altar of the .church, the greater becomes the responsibility resting upon those who know the reality of the transforming grace and power of Jesus Christ Second, because the Spirit was Lord in his life leading him into the life and experience which triumphs. This meant a separation and a cleansing. He put away and removed, the hidden things of shame, for a man cannot keep heart when he is fostering wrong things in his life or compromising in the things of holiness. It further meant a simple and straightforward manner of life and honest dealing with the Word of God. Men often lose heart because they compromise their walk and are not on the square with the Word of God. They handle it deceit fully. They speak of it as the very Word of God and loudly proclaim their faith in it, but there is no manifesta tion of the truth in their lives to commend it to men’s conscience in the sight of God. This always creates an atmosphere that chills the life and men lose heart. If things are right inside, the heart-fires burn however damp and cold things may be on the outside. Only immediate and intimate communion and fellowship with Jesus Christ can keep these fires aglow. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews commends us to “consider Him that ye faint not.” That considering S inn ing in Defending th e Truth \ \ 7 E have entered a zone of great spiritual danger. It vv is impossible to be too true to the truth; but it is possible so to defend the truth as to sin deeply. Extreme lucidity in the statement of facts and truths is no ,enemy of love, so long as mercy rejoices against judgment. When a Roundhead levelled a musket at the breast of Bishop Hacket, and bade him cease preaching, the Bishop simply said—“Soldier, do your duty; I shall continue to do mine.” God calls us.to be adamant (Ezek. 3:9), He never calls us to be gall. An old Scotch Methodist, who in life had clung passionately to a small sect, when he came within sight of the Gates of Pearl, exclaimed: “The street I am now traveling in has no sides ; and if power were -now ‘given me, I would preach purity of life more and purity of doc trine less. Since I was laid by here, I have had whisper ings telling me that the old wranglings will ne’er be heard in the Kingdom which I am nearing; and, as love cements all differences, I’ll perhaps find the place roomier than I thought of old.” Watchfulness without love is merely the stropping of a razor: love without watchfulness ends in the betrayal of the Lord.— D. M. Panton.
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