Or, The Place, the Peril and the Power of the Christian

(Concluded from p. 241)

"A MAN IN CHRIST"-HIS DANGER

In the paradise of God there are no dangers. There all is secured for ever in perennial peace. The tempter's voice shall never seek to allure and the flesh within shall draw away no more. While there as the "man in Christ" Paul was safe from every evil.

But the ecstasy passes, and he is found in the actual state of a man on earth and in the circumstances common to us all.

Here in this condition he is in a complex state, and not simply "a man in Christ." He finds himself exposed to danger from the presence of the flesh within him, therefore, "Lest he should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations," a preventive was provided-"a thorn in the flesh" was given to him. The flesh would exult and boast because Paul had been higher than any other of the apostles. It would lead him to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, and glory in the exceptional favor conferred upon him as though it was something to his credit. From, this we learn the incorrigible nature of the evil principle which is in every believer on earth today. The evil may be dormant or kept in check by the power of the Holy Spirit, but it is present and is ready ever to lift one of its hydra-heads and lead to distress and disaster. How many have failed in their testimony for the Lord they loved, through unwatchfulness and prayerlessness. Trusting in their love for their Master, as Peter did, they have believed that though all forsook Him yet they would not. Then being found in circumstances of temptation and trial they have been caught unprepared and unarmed and have by act and deed, if not by word of mouth, denied the Lord they desired to serve faithfully.

An old believer used to give young Christians of his acquaintance three words to bring about success in their Christian life. The first word was "Depend!" The second word was "Depend! f" The third word was "Depend!!!" We are only safe as we are held up by the Saviour Himself. As we draw from Him we shall be preserved. But only so. Throughout our earthly journeyings we are wise to pray, "Hold up my goings in Thy paths, that my footsteps slip not."

Some have thought that the flesh in them has been removed already by an act of faith, and have had to learn by bitter experience, when put to the test, that it is present with them still and that its evil is unchanged.

Why has it been left in us? some may enquire. One reason has been suggested. It is this:That we may learn something of the character of its evil, and so say "Amen" to what God did in condemning "sin in the flesh" at the cross where our Lord was made sin for us (Rom. 8:3; 2 Cor. 5:21). Another reason may be that we may learn the present love and care of our Lord as Advocate with the Father and as our great High Priest, in His keeping and restoring grace.

Because of the peril to which he was exposed a thorn for the flesh was given the apostle. It was an impaling stake, painful in its effect. Permitted of God, it was Satan's messenger. From this it would appear that it was something calculated to hinder the service of the apostle. Conjecture as to its nature cannot profit. The character of it is withheld. But such was its effect upon Paul, that, in bitterness of soul, he besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from him. The Lord is supreme in power and could have removed the trial. But it was for the Master's glory and for the servant's good that it had been given.

"A MAN IN CHRIST"-HIS RESOURCE

The answer of the Lord to the thrice-uttered, agonizing cry was, "My grace is sufficient for thee:for My strength is made perfect in weakness." "My grace is sufficient for thee." The thorn cast him on the Lord, as his ever needed and ever present resource. His very weakness served as the occasion to keep him constantly drawing from the limitless supply of strength which was in Christ the Lord. And that supply was all-sufficient for every demand which could be made upon it. On every occasion the Lord was his competence. Enough for every emergency, the Lord would never fail him. Thus he would be kept in constant touch with inexhaustible reserves and be empowered for every form of ministry.

Our weakness is no hindrance. It is imagined strength always which harms the servant. If ever conscious of our total inability to stand or serve aright, we shall ever lean hard and lean wholly upon the arm of power of our Almighty Lord. On the other hand, if we think that we can accomplish some good work in any strength of our own or because we have been successful previously, we are likely to fail hopelessly.

It is told of C. H. Spurgeon that when suffering from one of the fits of depression to which he was subject, he was driving in a carriage across London. The enemy was attacking him severely, leading him to think that all his work was in vain and his many labors utterly profitless. Suddenly the words, "My grace is sufficient for thee," came forcibly to his mind. It seemed to him as if the text was printed before him, that the "MY" was in immense letters .and the "thee" in very small ones, thus,

"MY grace is sufficient for thee."

The preacher thought of a little fish in the River Thames over which he was riding, and that the fish was afraid that it would drink up all the water and perish. But the river said, "Drink on, little fish, my supply is sufficient for thee." Again, he thought of a tourist on a mountain fearing that he might breathe all the oxygen from the atmosphere, and that the atmosphere remarked, "Breathe on, O man, my supply is sufficient for thee." Once again he thought, and now it was of a little mouse in one of Joseph's great granaries in Egypt. The little mouse feared it might eat up all the corn and die of hunger at last. But Joseph said, "Eat on, little mouse, my supply is sufficient for thee."

As Mr. Spurgeon pondered upon the greatness of the Lord and of His sufficiency, he marveled that he could ever have doubted Him. Standing up in his carriage and taking off his hat he said, "I should just think it is, Lord."

Thus he was encouraged to go forward for the Lord, confident in His power to maintain him in his labor, and that it was not in vain in the Lord.

Our weakness known and realized makes room for His power. No flesh is to glory in His presence. He that glories is to glory in the Lord alone. And so it came to pass that Paul rejoiced in infirmities and distress "for Christ's sake" so that the power of Christ might tabernacle over him. Of what he was as "a man in Christ" he would boast. Of what he was as a man here in service he would not glory, save in his weakness.

May it be ours to follow him.

Inglis Fleming