(Luke 9:49, 50.)
While our Lord was on the mount of transfiguration, an agonizing father besought His disciples to cast the demon out of his child, "and they could not." Spite of call and authorization to do this very thing, they were helpless in the face of the "strong man " who held captive the child. They can only meet the Master’s indignant rebuke, with the helpless inquiry, "Why could we not cast him out? " In His answer they learned the secret of dependence and self-denial-prayer and fasting-as the only means by which Satan’s power could be overcome.
Would we not naturally think that the humbling sense of their own weakness would beget a charity that could recognize the workings of grace in others? But no. "John," speaking for all, "answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils, in Thy name, and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us."
Notice, this man is doing the very thing they had been unable to do-casting out devils. Further, he confessed the power of the name of Jesus. He was not arrogating to himself a power that belongs only to God. But "he followeth not with us." Their jealousy seems to have been for themselves, not for their Lord. One would have thought that the power manifest in this individual worker, would have provoked them to shame, and stirred them to prayer. Ah! they will reduce him to their level of weakness, rather than recognize what is of God in him.
But would it do for us to reason that the twelve were wrong in following Jesus? Can we imagine John urging that they must be mistaken in their position, because of their weakness, that it would be better to launch off into independency in order to obtain spiritual power? This surely would be fully as sinful as the other. Let us take the lessons that lie here upon the very surface.
God’s grace is sovereign. He works where and by whom He pleases. Wherever He finds one willing to bow to that Name above every name, willing to be used by Christ, He makes such an one the instrument of His mercy. Let it be remembered that God’s mercy must find an outlet. It cannot be fettered and hindered from going out to a lost world. We are living in the day of God’s grace-may we not say at the close of that day?-when infinite love yearns with the same longing as at first to bless poor sinful man, and to deliver him from the thraldom of Satan. Whom is He going to use for this blessed service? Can those to whom He has intrusted more perhaps of His priceless truth than others, arrogate to themselves the exclusive right of declaring the gospel?
More sad yet is the weakness only too manifest. Where is there the power in the gospel that casts out Satan? Where that love for souls, that heart-breaking longing, that travailing in prayer for their new birth? Alas! alas! we must hang our heads and own with shame it is not with us. Is God making us characteristically a gospel testimony, is He using us as the honored channels to convey the glad tidings of His mercy to perishing souls? Blessed be His name for every conversion, for every cloud though but the size of a man’s hand, amongst the assemblies of His gathered people.
But souls are being saved, the gospel is being preached by many who have not a tithe of the precious truth known to us-what shall we do? rebuke them because they follow not with us? or hide our faces with shame to think we have been passed by! Ah! let us ask, why could not we cast him out? Let us hear the answer that cuts pride and indolence from us, and casts us upon the living God. How quickly would He turn our mourning into joy, our weakness into love and power.
If Paul could say to the Philippians that he rejoiced even where Christ was preached in pretense, because it was Christ who was preached, shall we not thank God for every earnest seeker after souls though "he followeth not with us"?
May we not, too, confess to a pharisaic spirit of contentment with our knowledge and attainments, that ill suits our actual condition ecclesiastically as mourners for the common ruin of Christendom? Is there not too much of the thought (never expressed in words) that we are "just right," and every one else wrong? Place this self-satisfaction alongside of our service for Christ-let us prayerfully examine our works; let us see how much we are sowing broadcast the precious seed of the gospel, with weeping (Ps. 122:6). Let us ask ourselves how many children we are reaching with the pure word of God, remembering that the large majority of those saved are brought to Christ early in life. Let us ask how many of the outcast and fallen we are reaching, remembering who was the Friend of publicans and sinners. Dear brethren, we will honor rather than forbid those whom God is using, and we will beg Him to fit and use us also.
Far be it from us to exaggerate-there is always a levity about exaggeration that reacts by hardening the conscience. We would thankfully own God’s grace given to many a quiet tract distributor, many a faithful witness for Christ at daily work, many who visit the poor and needy with that which is better than temporal succor. We can thankfully own too the boldness given to some to go out into the highways and lift up their voices as the maidens of wisdom. But is it characteristic of us all? Do we all see our work and are we engaged in it?
Let us be sober-minded, avoiding all false zeal, all undue excitement. Let us compare ourselves with Scripture standards, and then upon our knees confess individually how little power we have against the hosts of Satan. Will we rebuke those who follow not with us, or will we learn from them? May our ever gracious God pierce us with this heart-searching fact, and awaken us to the love that labors because it must. We will see results, and apart from special "gifts," as well as by means of them, will know the joy of being channels of blessing to others.
But will this make us indifferent to following Christ in His word ever more and more closely? Will we lightly esteem the narrow path of obedience to every word of God, and lay upon the path the blame due only to our coldness of heart? Nay. Obedience and service are sisters. Only, pride is not obedience; knowledge, now as ever,-mere knowledge-puffeth up. He who has his heart truly enlarged to take in all the people of God, will find his feet in the narrow path.
Love and sentiment are widely different. There is nothing weak in love; it is stronger than all else; it is firm and uncompromising, unyielding. Weakness is but another name for selfishness, which will not let itself be disturbed by the disobedience of others. Love can weep and watch, can rebuke and smite, can do all things but yield in that which would injure its object or dishonor God. Such a love has God’s, will, God’s word, and His glory as its standard. It does not imitate men, it cannot sacrifice principle. But it is not puffed up and does not behave itself unseemly by a pharisaic spirit of pride.
May there be a revival of God’s work in all our hearts:an awakening by His Spirit, restoring the freshness of the early days, the spirit of prayer and faith, and love for souls. Oh, to be fresh! The taste of the manna was like fresh oil. When Christ is truly fed upon, in the power of the Holy Spirit, there is a freshness of joy and power that must find an outlet in happy service.
So we will not rebuke those who follow not with us, however much we may seek to guide them and help them in God’s truth. But, by God’s grace, we will stand ever firmer in His place, seeking in that place a freshness and freedom of service whose lack we now deplore.