We need constantly a fresh revelation of Christ, a daily
experience that harmonizes with His teachings. High
and holy attainments are within our reach. Continual progress
in knowledge and virtue is God's purpose for us.
His law is the echo of His own voice, giving to all the
invitation, "Come up higher. Be holy, holier still." Every day we
may advance in perfection of Christian character.
Those who are engaged in service for the Master need an
experience much higher, deeper, broader, than many have
yet thought of having. Many who are already members of
God's great family know little of what it means to behold His
glory and to be changed from glory to glory. Many have a
twilight perception of Christ's excellence, and their hearts
thrill with joy. They long for a fuller, deeper sense of the
Saviour's love. Let these cherish every desire of the soul
after God. The Holy Spirit works with those who will be
worked, molds those who will be molded, fashions those who
will be fashioned. Give yourselves the culture of spiritual
thoughts and holy communings. You have seen but the first
rays of the early dawn of His glory. As you follow on to
know the Lord, you will know that "the path of the righteous
is as the light of dawn, that shineth more and more
unto the perfect day." Proverbs 4:18, R.V., margin.
"These things have I spoken unto you," said Christ, "that
My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be
full." John 15:11.
Ever before Him, Christ saw the result of His mission.
His earthly life, so full of toil and self-sacrifice, was cheered
by the thought that He would not have all this travail for
nought. By giving His life for the life of men, He would
restore in humanity the image of God. He would lift us up
from the dust, reshape the character after the pattern of His
own character, and make it beautiful with His own glory.
Christ saw of the travail of His soul and was satisfied. He
viewed the expanse of eternity and saw the happiness of those
who through His humiliation should receive pardon and
everlasting life. He was wounded for their transgressions,
bruised for their iniquities. The chastisement of their peace
was upon Him, and with His stripes they were healed. He
heard the shout of the redeemed. He heard the ransomed
ones singing the song of Moses and the Lamb. Although the
baptism of blood must first be received, although the sins of
the world were to weigh upon His innocent soul, although
the shadow of an unspeakable woe was upon Him; yet for
the joy that was set before Him He chose to endure the cross
and despised the shame.
This joy all His followers are to share. However great and
glorious hereafter, our reward is not all to be reserved for the
time of final deliverance. Even here we are by faith to enter
into the Saviour's joy. Like Moses, we are to endure as seeing
the Invisible.
Now the church is militant. Now we are confronted with
a world in darkness, almost wholly given over to idolatry.
The Joy of the Lord
There were ninety and nine that safely lay
In the shelter of the fold,
But one was out on the hills away,
Far, far from the gates of gold--
Away on the mountains wild and bare,
Away from the tender Shepherd's care.
"Lord, Thou hast here Thy ninety and nine;
Are they not enough for Thee?"
But the Shepherd made answer: "One of Mine
Has wandered away from Me,
And although the road be rough and steep,
I go to the desert to find My sheep."
But none of the ransomed ever knew
How deep were the waters crossed,
Nor how dark was the night that the Lord passed
through
Ere He found His sheep that was lost.
Far out in the desert He heard its cry--
Fainting and helpless, and ready to die.
"Lord, whence are these blood drops all the way
That mark out the mountain's track?"
"They were shed for one who had gone astray,
Ere the Shepherd could bring him back."
"Lord, why are Thy hands so rent and torn?"
"They were pierced tonight by many a thorn."
But all through the mountains, thunder-riven,
And up from the rocky steep,
There rose a cry to the gate of heaven,
"Rejoice, I have found My sheep!"
And the angels sang around the throne,
"Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own!"
--Elizabeth C. Clephane.
But the day is coming when the battle will have been fought,
the victory won. The will of God is to be done on earth as it
is done in heaven. The nations of the saved will know no
other law than the law of heaven. All will be a happy, united
family, clothed with the garments of praise and thanksgiving--the
robe of Christ's righteousness. All nature, in its
surpassing loveliness, will offer to God a tribute of praise and
adoration. The world will be bathed in the light of heaven.
The light of the moon will be as the light of the sun, and the
light of the sun will be sevenfold greater than it is now. The
years will move on in gladness. Over the scene the morning
stars will sing together, the sons of God will shout for
joy, while God and Christ will unite in proclaiming, "There
shall be no more sin, neither shall there be any more death."
These visions of future glory, scenes pictured by the hand
of God, should be dear to His children.
Stand on the threshold of eternity and hear the gracious
welcome given to those who in this life have co-operated with
Christ, regarding it as a privilege and an honor to suffer for
His sake. With the angels, they cast their crowns at the feet
of the Redeemer, exclaiming, "Worthy is the Lamb that was
slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength,
and honor, and glory, and blessing. . . . Honor, and glory,
and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and
unto the Lamb for ever and ever." Revelation 5:12, 13.
There the redeemed ones greet those who directed them
to the uplifted Saviour. They unite in praising Him who
died that human beings might have the life that measures
with the life of God. The conflict is over. All tribulation and
strife are at an end. Songs of victory fill all heaven, as the
redeemed stand around the throne of God. All take up the
joyful strain, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain" and hath
redeemed us to God.
"I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could
number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues,
stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with
white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud
voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the
throne, and unto the Lamb." Revelation 7:9, 10.
"These are they which came out of great tribulation, and
have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood
of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God,
and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that
sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall
hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the
sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in
the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them
unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all
tears from their eyes." "And there shall be no more death,
neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more
pain: for the former things are passed away." Verses 14-17;
21:4.
We need to keep ever before us this vision of things unseen.
It is thus that we shall be able to set a right value on the
things of eternity and the things of time. It is this that will
give us power to influence others for the higher life.
In the Mount With God
"Come up to Me into the mount," God bids us. To Moses,
before he could be God's instrument in delivering Israel, was
appointed the forty years of communion with Him in the
mountain solitudes. Before bearing God's message to Pharaoh,
he spoke with the angel in the burning bush. Before
receiving God's law as the representative of His people, he
was called into the mount, and beheld His glory. Before
executing justice on the idolaters, he was hidden in the cleft
of the rock, and the Lord said, "I will proclaim the name of
the Lord before thee," "merciful and gracious, slow to anger,
and abundant in loving-kindness and truth; . . . and that
will by no means clear the guilty." Exodus 33:19; 34:6, 7,
A.R.V. Before he laid down, with his life, his burden for
Israel, God called him to the top of Pisgah and spread out
before him the glory of the Promised Land.
Before the disciples went forth on their mission, they were
called up into the mount with Jesus. Before the power and
glory of Pentecost, came the night of communion with the
Saviour, the meeting on the mountain in Galilee, the parting
scene upon Olivet, with the angel's promise, and the days of
prayer and communion in the upper chamber.
Jesus, when preparing for some great trial or some important
work, would resort to the solitude of the mountains and
spend the night in prayer to His Father. A night of prayer
preceded the ordination of the apostles and the Sermon on
the Mount, the transfiguration, the agony of the judgment
hall and the cross, and the resurrection glory.
The Privilege of Prayer
We, too, must have times set apart for meditation and
prayer and for receiving spiritual refreshing. We do not value
the power and efficacy of prayer as we should. Prayer and
faith will do what no power on earth can accomplish. We are
seldom, in all respects, placed in the same position twice.
We continually have new scenes and new trials to pass
through, where past experience cannot be a sufficient guide.
We must have the continual light that comes from God.
Christ is ever sending messages to those who listen for
His voice. On the night of the agony in Gethsemane, the
sleeping disciples heard not the voice of Jesus. They had a
dim sense of the angels' presence, but lost the power and
glory of the scene. Because of their drowsiness and stupor
they failed of receiving the evidence that would have strengthened
their souls for the terrible scenes before them. Thus
today the very men who most need divine instruction often
fail of receiving it, because they do not place themselves in
communion with heaven.
The temptations to which we are daily exposed make
prayer a necessity. Dangers beset every path. Those who
are seeking to rescue others from vice and ruin are especially
exposed to temptation. In constant contact with evil, they
need a strong hold upon God lest they themselves be
corrupted. Short and decisive are the steps that lead men down
from high and holy ground to a low level. In a moment
decisions may be made that fix one's condition forever. One
failure to overcome leaves the soul unguarded. One evil
habit, if not firmly resisted, will strengthen into chains of
steel, binding the whole man.
The reason why so many are left to themselves in places
of temptation is that they do not set the Lord always before
them. When we permit our communion with God to be
broken, our defense is departed from us. Not all your good
purposes and good intentions will enable you to withstand
evil. You must be men and women of prayer. Your petitions
must not be faint, occasional, and fitful, but earnest,
persevering, and constant. It is not always necessary to bow upon
your knees in order to pray. Cultivate the habit of talking
with the Saviour when you are alone, when you are walking,
and when you are busy with your daily labor. Let the heart
be continually uplifted in silent petition for help, for light,
for strength, for knowledge. Let every breath be a prayer.
As workers for God we must reach men where they are,
surrounded with darkness, sunken in vice, and stained with
corruption. But while we stay our minds upon Him who is
our sun and our shield, the evil that surrounds us will not
bring one stain upon our garments. As we work to save the
souls that are ready to perish we shall not be put to shame if
we make God our trust. Christ in the heart, Christ in the
life, this is our safety. The atmosphere of His presence will
fill the soul with abhorrence of all that is evil. Our spirit may
be so identified with His that in thought and aim we shall be
one with Him.
It was through faith and prayer that Jacob, from being
a man of feebleness and sin, became a prince with God. It
is thus that you may become men and women of high and
holy purpose, of noble life, men and women who will not for
any consideration be swayed from truth, right, and justice.
All are pressed with urgent cares, burdens, and duties, but
the more difficult your position and the heavier your burdens,
the more you need Jesus.
It is a serious mistake to neglect the public worship of God.
The privileges of divine service should not be lightly regarded.
Those who attend upon the sick are often unable to avail
themselves of these privileges, but they should be careful not
to absent themselves needlessly from the house of worship.
In ministering to the sick, more than in any merely secular
business, success depends on the spirit of consecration and
self-sacrifice with which the work is done. Those who bear
responsibilities need to place themselves where they will be
deeply impressed by the Spirit of God. You should have as
much greater anxiety than do others for the aid of the Holy
Spirit and for a knowledge of God as your position of trust
is more responsible than that of others.
Nothing is more needed in our work than the practical
results of communion with God. We should show by our
daily lives that we have peace and rest in the Saviour. His
peace in the heart will shine forth in the countenance. It will
give to the voice a persuasive power. Communion with God
will ennoble the character and the life. Men will take knowledge
of us, as of the first disciples, that we have been with
Jesus. This will impart to the worker a power that nothing
else can give. Of this power he must not allow himself to be
deprived.
We must live a twofold life--a life of thought and action,
of silent prayer and earnest work. The strength received
through communion with God, united with earnest effort in
training the mind to thoughtfulness and caretaking, prepares
one for daily duties and keeps the spirit in peace under all
circumstances, however trying.
The Divine Counselor
When in trouble, many think they must appeal to some
earthly friend, telling him their perplexities, and begging for
help. Under trying circumstances unbelief fills their hearts,
and the way seems dark. And all the time there stands beside
them the mighty Counselor of the ages, inviting them to place
their confidence in Him. Jesus, the great Burden Bearer, is
saying, "Come unto Me, and I will give you rest." Shall we
turn from Him to uncertain human beings, who are as
dependent upon God as we ourselves are?
You may feel the deficiency of your character and the
smallness of your ability in comparison with the greatness of
the work. But if you had the greatest intellect ever given to
man, it would not be sufficient for your work. "Without
Me ye can do nothing," says our Lord and Saviour. John
15:5. The result of all we do rests in the hands of God. Whatever
may betide, lay hold upon Him with steady, persevering
confidence.
In your business, in companionship for leisure hours, and
in alliance for life, let all the associations you form be entered
upon with earnest, humble prayer. You will thus show that
you honor God, and God will honor you. Pray when you are
fainthearted. When you are desponding, close the lips firmly
to men; do not shadow the path of others; but tell everything
to Jesus. Reach up your hands for help. In your weakness
lay hold of infinite strength. Ask for humility, wisdom, courage,
increase of faith, that you may see light in God's light
and rejoice in His love.
Consecration; Trust
When we are humble and contrite we stand where God
can and will manifest Himself to us. He is well pleased
when we urge past mercies and blessings as a reason why He
should bestow on us greater blessings. He will more than
fulfill the expectations of those who trust fully in Him. The
Lord Jesus knows just what His children need, how much
divine power we will appropriate for the blessing of humanity;
and He bestows upon us all that we will employ in blessing
others and ennobling our own souls.
We must have less trust in what we ourselves can do, and
more trust in what the Lord can do for and through us. You
are not engaged in your own work; you are doing the work
of God. Surrender your will and way to Him. Make not a
single reserve, not a single compromise with self. Know what
it is to be free in Christ.
The mere hearing of sermons Sabbath after Sabbath, the
reading of the Bible through and through, or the explanation
of it verse by verse, will not benefit us or those who hear us,
unless we bring the truths of the Bible into our individual
experience. The understanding, the will, the affections, must
be yielded to the control of the word of God. Then through
the work of the Holy Spirit the precepts of the word will
become the principles of the life.
As you ask the Lord to help you, honor your Saviour by
believing that you do receive His blessing. All power, all
wisdom, are at our command. We have only to ask.
Walk continually in the light of God. Meditate day and
night upon His character. Then you will see His beauty and
rejoice in His goodness. Your heart will glow with a sense of
His love. You will be uplifted as if borne by everlasting arms.
With the power and light that God imparts, you can comprehend
more and accomplish more than you ever before deemed
possible.
"Abide in Me."
Christ bids us: "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch
cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more
can ye, except ye abide in Me. . . . He that abideth in Me,
and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without
Me ye can do nothing. . . . If ye abide in Me, and My
words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be
done unto you. Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear
much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples.
"As the Father hath loved Me, so have I loved you:
continue ye in My love. . . .
"Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and
ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and
that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of
the Father in My name, He may give it you." John 15:4-16.
"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear
My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will
sup with him, and he with Me." Revelation 3:20.
"To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden
manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a
new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that
receiveth it." Revelation 2:17.
"He that overcometh, . . . I will give him the Morning
Star," "and I will write upon him the name of My God, and
the name of the city of My God: . . . and I will write upon
him My new name." Verses 26-28; 3:12.
"This One Thing I Do."
He whose trust is in God will with Paul be able to say, "I
can do all things in Him that strengtheneth me." Philippians
4:13, R.V. Whatever the mistakes or failures of the past,
we may, with the help of God, rise above them. With the
apostle we may say:
"This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are
behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are
before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling
of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13, 14.