Pharaoh in the Red Sea but bade them to press on and occupy the land of promise— so now with us. He does not rest content with mere ly saving us from wrath, but urges us to go at once and possess all the riches of that inheritance for us in Jesus Christ. There are no poor in heaven and God would have none in grace below. St. Paul says: “ . . . I bow my knees unto the Fa ther of our Lord Jesus Christ. . . That he would grant you, according to the riches of his g lory . . . That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, [whilst still here below] being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge . . . .” Poverty, therefore, in grace is in excusable, not only spiritual sloth on our part, but almost contempt for the still glorious inheritance awaiting us in Christ. All the riches
of grace are summed up in Christ, as “wisdom” and “ righteousness” and “ sanctification” and “ redemp tion.” So we do begin each day by giv ing thanks to God for the past, and also for the future victory. Re member that though Jacob feared his brother Esau, his real “wrestle” was with the angel of the, covenant —his Master above; thus the battle was fought and the victory gained before Jacob even saw his brother, and so with you, faith should gain the victory before the battle of the day is fought. Remember before us is the world, the devil (as a “ roaring lion” or “ an angel of light” ), and our hearts (deceitful above all things). These three we have to meet each day. But also remember—greater is He who is for us than all who are against us. Yes, the victory may be fully de cided before we meet our enemy each morning face to face. Our greatest trouble is always
with our own evil heart, for when we go to God in prayer we too often stagger through unbelief and fail to grasp the victory by faith. The real contest or “wrestle” is with un belief, for when in prayer we have gained strength (by simply trusting Christ) then we are more than con querors. But what is this trusting? It is believing that our prayer is heard and that Christ will dwell in our hearts, and that His strength will be made perfect in weakness: and indeed, that He Himself will subdue our enemies on every side. The child of God who has learned wholly to trust Christ will not only grow, but rest in perfect peace. If any should ask how we are to ob tain this faith, it is first, by a rev erent and prayerful study of God’s holy Word; and secondly, by ear nest continuance in prayer. The daily study of the Bible is absolute ly necessary for our, ;spiritual growth. It is the witness of the Holy Spirit to the truth as it is in Jesus. In a word, the following are three conditions of successful prayer: 1. Abiding i n . Christ and His Word abiding in us. 2. The work of the two interces sors (the Holy Spirit here on earth, interceding in us, and Christ our advocate on high, interceding for us). 3. Then faith in that . . What things soever ye desire, whert ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and. ye shall have them.” . Finally, remember that,spiritual progress is the great law in God’s kingdom of grace. Nicodemus when he came to Christ had no strength in him, but the day came when this same man openly avowed his love ’ for Christ, confessed Him whom Israel had crucified and His own disciples had deserted. Peter had trembled at the voice of a maid but later was willing to die a mar tyr. Because we also desire to grow in grace we must keep our eyes fixed on the Lord Jesus Christ as the author and finisher of our faith, and who is ever present to help us in time of need. END. The above article is included in "Life in a Look,” by the late Bishop of Huron. Picker ing & Inglis Ltd., London & Glasgow.
Wartka, Sometimes I grow weary of humble tasks That fall to a housewife’s share — The bread to be baked, and the linen washed, And the house kept sweet and fair; Over and over the selfsame chores, The selfsame needs to be met. Lord, have I chosen the better part, Are there Marys and Marthas yet? Then I think of a beacon fire that glowed For the nshers of Galilee, ' And a meal prepared by hands that were scarred, (Fresh scarred on a cruel tree). The fire shone warm on the weary men, There was rest for their tired feet, There were bread and fish from the Master’s hands, And the honeycomb was sweet. O humbled and chastened and rapturous heart, Will you ever despise again The tasks that the hands of the Son of God Scorned not to perform for men?
-—Martha Snell Nicholson
OCTOBER 1956
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