"If a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself" (Gal. 6:3).

The apostle is here guarding against that self-sufficiency to be or to have something which, we might say, in its fullest sense marks mere profession; and which in some measure may be found in every one. A child of God may thus be self-deceived as to what he thinks is "something" good, or wise or strong, in himself.

What is the remedy? In the direct connection (ver. 4) it is, "Let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself, and not in another." But is there not back of this a lesson of mercy and love. Who and what are we?-"something?" Measured by man's standard, some might think they had something in which to boast. "If any man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more" (Phil. 3:4). Here is a man who, judged according to the best standards of human effort along the line of religious works, could say he profited in the Jews' religion above many of his contemporaries (Gal. 1:14), and yet while, "touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless," adds with deep joy, "What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ" (Phil. 3:7).

He rejoices to be nothing in himself, that all the excellency may be that of Another, to whom shall be all the praise. So when speaking of his service to the Lord, more abundant than that of others, he realizes it is "not I." "In nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing" (2 Cor. 12:11). Nor is this mere semblance of humility. The devoted bondman in the chains of his Saviour's love gives all the praise to Him, "for of Him, and through Him and to Him are all things:to whom be glory forever. Amen" (Rom. 11:36).

So everything for God is dependent upon the Lord Jesus. And is not this the only way in which He could secure aught in a fallen world? "I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me" (John 6:38). The One who said, "Lo, I come, to do Thy will, O God," accomplished that will, in the offering of Himself upon the cross-a devotion even unto death, in which He has set aside all that the flesh could offer, and presented the believer before God in all the value of His own most precious sacrifice. Here is the amazing, the divine, love of our God, beyond all human thought.

The fruit flows from this. So the apostle says, in describing the Christian's resources, "As having nothing and yet possessing all things" (2 Cor. 6:10), which seems to be faith's response to the words of our blessed Lord, "Without Me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5). Were not all His miracles when He was here illustrative of this? He said to the man with the withered hand, "Stretch forth thy hand." The power came from Him who gave the word.

So we are turned back constantly to the One who is All-all His will, His love, His strength. Christ is all. May our hearts increasingly respond to His desires for us. S. Ridout