The life of faith, in its every
step, is intensely individual. No one can have faith for another, and no one
ought to intrude upon another’s path. We may encourage one another to trust God
and to strengthen each other in the Lord. But let us be careful in counseling
another to do this or that unless we discern that there is distinct faith for
it. It is a serious thing to go beyond our depth—to feel the surging of the
tide of circumstances—if our feet are not on the rock. Can you imagine Abraham
asking anyone if it would be "faith or folly" for him to leave Ur of the Chaldees? or Moses asking the advice of others as to his leaving the court of
Pharaoh? We must receive instruction from the Lord and act before Him;
otherwise it will all end in confusion and disaster. Let us act upon the maxim,
"Never go before your faith and never lag behind your conscience."
Let not the persuasive arguments
of a thousand friends induce you to do anything with a doubtful mind.
"Whatsoever is not of faith is sin" (Rom. 14:23). Look to the Lord
for guidance in every matter. See if you can do it to His glory; if not, lay it
aside.
Responding to Painful
Circumstances
You may be in painful
circumstances while seeking to do the right thing before the Lord. If you
really wait on Him, He will teach you when to speak and when to keep silence.
There is danger of speaking in haste of temper rather than in a spirit of love
when replying to the godless remarks of the unconverted. Further, we must
remember that there is often far more powerful testimony in solemn and
dignified silence than in talking for talking’s sake.
Acting Impulsively
Let us dread to act under mere
impulse. It is always well to be sure of every step we take—to be able to give
a "Thus saith the Lord" for whatever we do or refuse to do. Very much
damage is done to the cause of truth and godliness by impulsive acting. We
greatly value calm, deep-toned decision for Christ—a decision produced by
genuine love to His Person and profound subjection to the authority of His
Word. These things are most needful in this day of man’s will, man’s judgment,
and man’s reason.
Trust Christ and act boldly for
Him. "If your eye be single, your whole body shall be full of light"
(Matt. 6:22). But if you are looking at circumstances, weighing consequences,
or conferring with flesh and blood, your eye is not single and you will be in
darkness and perplexity.
"When your eye is
single," that is, when you have but one object before you,
"your whole body also is full of light; but when your eye is evil, your
body also is full of darkness. Take heed, therefore, that the light which is in
you be not darkness. If your whole body therefore be full of light, having no
part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a
candle gives you light" (Luke 11:34-36).
How striking the contrast! Instead
of stumbling on the dark mountains, the obedient soul not only has light for
his own path, but he is actually a light-bearer for others. The moral progress
in the above passage is striking. There is first the single eye—the simple,
earnest purpose of heart to go right on in the path of obedience, cost what it
may. Then the body is full of light. But there is more:"If your whole
body therefore be full of light, having no part dark"—no reserve,
no chamber of the heart kept locked up on account of friends, self-interest,
worldly ease, or anything else—"the whole shall be full of light."
Thus you become transparent, and your light shines so that others see it. Not
that you think so, for a single eye never looks at self. If I make it my object
to be a light-bearer, I shall get full of darkness and be a stumbling-block.
Finally, my dear friends, let me
entreat you to yield yourself without reserve to the Word of your Lord. Do not
allow your "friends" to stand in your way. Will your friends answer
for you before the judgment seat of Christ? Can they now fill your heart with
that sweet peace which can only be found in the path of obedience? They do not
deserve the name of friends if they stand in your way in following Christ. May
God lead you forth into that blessed sphere in which you can walk with Him, work
for Him, and find all your springs in Him! To Him we earnestly commend you.
(From Short Papers, Vol. 2,
by C. H. Mackintosh; copyright 1975 by Believers Bookshelf, Sunbury, PA; used
by permission.)