August 1928
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
477
God’s All Sufficient ¿Grace dH B y S . E. B urrow
|HO is there that knows anything at all of the Christian life who does not know the stress of this personal conflict with foes within and without, and whose faith does not some times tremble as the sense o f his own weak ness is borne in upon him? It is at such times that the remembrance o f God’s sufficiency comes as the very music o f heaven to our souls, inviting us to look away from self and circumstances to our heavenly Father. His ever-watchful eye saw the terrible conflict through which the Apostle was passing, and His loving whisper, “My grace is sufficient fo r thee,” not only hush ed every fear, but nerved His servant to fresh endeavor and a more determined fight. It was a personal assurance, and it may be appropriated by every child o f God looking forward to coming days. Does the way seem steeper and rougher as the time goes by? Are earthly friends failing us? Do we know what it is'to be misjudged and mis understood? Is the great adversary o f souls suggesting surrender ? Let us hush our souls amid the tumult of life, and catch the thrill o f the ever-echoing message^ “ My grace is sufficient for thee !” Further: this golden word, “ sufficient,” applies to every possible need of every child of God. It is identical with God’s resources, and therefore knows no limitation. Unfortunately, we are too readily disposed to entertain the subtle suggestion that, while the grace of God makes ample provision for the mastery of the general forms of temptation, it does not provide for the vanquishing o f the peculiar tendencies o f our individual and personal temper ament and disposition. W e are ready and glad to be lieve that God is able to pardon the unlovely past and to keep us from the grosser forms o f sin, but the inherent disposition— the bias o f ugly moods and the treacherous temper—must be' carried along the whole length o f life’s journey! Having inherited these “ weaknesses,” we get into the habit of making generous allowances for our selves when they come to the surface and make things uncomfortable! We forget that the salvation which we profess to enjoy and seek to recommend provides for deliverance from every form o f evil, seeing that Christ “ is able to save to the uttermost.” Take as illustration of the all-sufficient power of God to subdue inherent tendencies to evilHthe cases o f the Apostles Feter and John. Enough is told us of these vil lage fishermen to show that by nature they were impul- sive, passionate and vindictive. Peter’s inherent temper led him to slash at a man with a sword— to lie in the most shameful fashion—to break out into oaths and curses ! John was by natural temperament so volcanic that he was known as a “ Son o f Thunder” ! Was there ;eyer more un likely material for the fashioning of saintsLYet the sequel o f their life-story tells of the one becoming patient, sub missive and self-forgetful—even glad to suffer for the sake o f others; and the other so gentle, tender and loving that he has secured for himself the title— “ Apostle of Love” !
A ll and A lways But it is in the ninth chapter that Paul reaches the culminating point in his pronouncement on the divine re sources : “ God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” Could any statement touching the ability and readiness o f God to meet the manifold needs o f His children be more explicit or more comprehensive? The threefold use of the word “ all” seems to suggest that the Apostle was determined to make it trebly sure that nothing that concerns the life of the believer lies outside the loving thought and care of G od ; while the word “ always” carries with it an assurance of constancy that should banish the last vestige o f doubt or fear as to the future. All grace! The rich, full, free, and undeserved mercy of God, linked with His measureless strength, placed at our disposal to meet the daily needs of our life ! All sufficiency! No stint— no limit— no insuperable difficulty— no. unconquerable foe— no unbearable trial— no impossible task-—no unquenchable passion— no hopeless outlook! All things! Nothing that counts precluded. All little things that fret and chafe and worry. All big things that stagger and appal. All commonplace things that make up the sum total o f life. All trying things— the sneer that stings, the injustice that rankles, the coldness that hurts, the disappointments that crush, the misunderstandings that pain, the losses that impoverish— the hundred and one “ things” that test our patience, that try our temper, that play their part in the discipline o f life. God takes count of all these things-—He has anticipated them and provided for them— the all grace is available! Always! Never a moment outside the providence of G od ; never out o f His sight! Never forgotten or for saken; always within reach o f His loving hand; always kept by His limitless Grace; always overshadowed by His infinite Love; always His, for Time and Eternity! (From The Christian.) N a tu r e O verflow s W ith G o d Here is an impressive paragraph from Dr. A . Z. Con rad : Nature fairly overflows with God. The habit o f inter preting the messages written on the petal of a flower, the wing o f the butterfly, the leaf o f the tree'; the habit of translating the songs of the birds and the hum o f insects or the rumble of thunder will greatly enrich life. If will awaken a desire for efflorescence and songfulness in our own lives. Nature is a wonderful book. To study it devoutly increases its glory a thousand fold. Walking with Christ among the lilies is the highest o f all privileges and will make clear to us the secret, the blessedness and the soul satisfaction o f soul growth.
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