Matt. 9:27-31 inclusive.
This is the principle, or law, of God’s activity in His saints, as well as of His grace to sinners. In the scriptures before us we have a perfect and beautiful illustration of it, as to the latter class, and in the seventeenth chapter, of the want of faith on the part of the former.
The blessed Master had returned to His own city -Nazareth-and had "forgiven the sins,"and healed "the man sick of the palsy," cured "the woman diseased with an issue of blood twelve years," raised the dead "daughter of a certain ruler," and "His fame had gone abroad into all that land;" so that when He departed thence, two blind men followed Him, beseeching Him to "have mercy on them." These, no doubt, had heard of the wonderful works wrought by Jesus, because " His fame had gone out into all that land," and in their extreme need, knowing full well this need, they were ready and willing to believe that He who could raise the dead must also be able to open their eyes. Therefore they came to Him, into the house, and the Lord knowing their thoughts, reading their hearts, said unto them, believe ye that I am able to do this? Do what? They had not told Him their desire, they had not asked Him to return their sight, but only to "have mercy on us,"-Ah! but He knows what we desire before we ask Him. Then touched He their eyes, saying, " According to your faith be it unto you," "and their eyes were opened." This is what they were expecting, what they desired and all they desired. It was "the end of their faith." "They received the end of their faith," even the opening of their eyes. On the same principle, the end of their faith may be the salvation of their souls (i Peter 1:9).
Now faith is not an act of our own wills, as many imagine, but it is the gift of God. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights " (James 1:17). "By grace are ye saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God" (Eph. 1:8). ‘’ Think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith " (Rom. 12:3). Now the question will arise, how does God deal to us the measure of faith? Just as He gave the manna to Israel:" Every man gathering according to his eating," or his appetite for it. So God deals to us the measure of faith. As we desire it, as we require it, as we will receive and use it according to His will. He cannot give faith for that which is not according to His purpose. His purpose now is for salvation to man; a new life, a new creation by the Holy Spirit. To this end He measures to His saints as they need all requisite gifts by the Holy Spirit. He does not give faith for physical wants beyond that which is ordained under natural law; because He is not now dealing with the race on this ground. He did do this in the beginning of this dispensation for the establishment of the truth in the world; so that no excuse should be possible to unbelief; but now, when the testimony of physical miracles has been sufficient to this end, His real purpose of salvation in grace, through faith, is working out His will according to His own eternal purpose. We are therefore not authorized by the word of God to have faith for or expect physical miracles; though the spiritually miraculous is before our eyes in every soul born of God. He is now through grace, by faith, taking out of the already judged world a people for His Name (Acts 15:14). Sanctifying, separating them from the world to Himself; to His fellowship, His society, His association!
Faith then being the gift of God, it may be said to be the instrument by which God calls men into this association. " If any man will do His will, he shall know of the teaching whether it be of God or whether I speak of Myself." So spake the Lord to the Jews as recorded in John 7:17. Also, "He that is of God, heareth God’s words:ye therefore hear not, because ye are not of God" (John 8:47). Subjection then is man’s part in salvation. Willing subjection. A heart for the truth, God’s truth, the source of truth; the highest truth there is for man. A lover of the truth. Any man thus willing, "shall know of the teaching." Of such were the two men who came to the Lord in the ninth of Matthew. He drew them to Him, into the house, and through faith, granted them the desire of their hearts. Their eyes were opened.
Opening the eyes lets in the light. So also is it in spiritual things. The light of heaven flows in through the open eyes of faith. God opens the eyes of every willing, subject soul. As in the beginning of the new creation life, so is it to the end, " According to your faith so be it unto you." We get on in heavenly things as we are willing to receive from God. He is always waiting to be gracious unto us, and His gifts are only limited by our desire for them. We gather the manna for our own eating, as much as we may; but no more than we use. It is gathering from day to day. It cannot be kept over. All not consumed spoils. No nourishment can be had from it. Christian progress, growth in grace, is from freshly feeding on the heavenly Manna every day, so that "to them that have, more shall be given," and we go on in "grace upon grace."
When the blind men were restored to their sight, Jesus commanded them that no man should know about it. But on the contrary, "they spread His fame throughout all that country! " They couldn’t help it. It was more than poor human nature could keep hidden. Their hearts were full to bursting; and out of a full heart the mouth will speak:Hence they spread His fame throughout all that country. That is what all true Christians will do, cannot help doing, when their eyes are fully open and "the light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" is poured from heaven into their souls. Then they will sing, by the Spirit, with all saints:-
" Our hearts are full of Christ, and long
Their glorious matter to declare!
Of Him we make our loftier song,-
We, cannot from His praise forbear:
Our ready tongues make haste to sing
The glories of the heavenly King."
J. S. P.