Life On The Highest Plane
The Word of God Is a Seed that Matures and Multiplies
Some one has told of a Korean Christian who was examined on the Sermon on the Mount and was able to repeat it without mistake. When the missionary asked, "How did you manage to learn it so perfectly?" the reply came, "I learned it a verse or a few verses at a time. I would learn a verse and then go out and find some one to practice it on."
A native of India read the Gospels for the first time and while filled with admiration for the God-man, yet such a life in such a world seemed wholly incredible to him. Then he read on into the Epistles and learned that the Christian was one who was like his Lord and whose life was lived in obedience to the Word. So he started out on a quest - to find a man whose life matched the Book - determining that if his quest were successful, he would believe. If he had seen you or me would he have found one whose life matched the Book?
Dr. Alex Smellie wrote of Evan H. Hopkins, "He was a sermon incarnate. The sunshine of the Better Country where his days and nights were spent, played on his soul and articulated itself in his speech; it was sunshine not merely visible but audible."
It is the man who obeys the truth as he knows it whose capacity is enlarged to receive larger and fuller revelations of truth. The man who steadfastly lives out what he learns is ever learning more.
Genesis 13:14, "And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the lace where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward."
"The Lord said - after that." Here is a most significant sequence. Obedience to God's command brought the fuller revelation of God's purpose to Abram. So will it be with you and me. Disobedience to the known will of God as revealed in His Word is the cause of much of the stagnancy and slothfulness in the churches today. What a revival would take place in the corporate body of Christ, the Church, and what a revolution there would be in the individual members if every Christian began to live what he has learned of the Word of God.
Sir Arthur Blackwell has summed up the Christian's relationship to the Bible in four great words.
"Admit" - open your whole being to let it be flooded with light. Let the truth in. Study the Bible sympathetically and lovingly. Let it be God's voice to you direct.
"Submit" - Let the truth grip you that it may govern you. "Let the plain declaration of God's Word be the end of all controversy. When we raise an issue with God all growth and all blessing must stop until that issue is settled."
"Commit" - Grip the truth by hiding it in your heart. Let today's message be articulated to yesterday's so that a chain is forged that is a veritable anchor to your soul in times of temptation, trouble and trail.
"Transmit" - Don't be a pool; be a stream. Don't hoard your riches; share the bounties of the Lord's table with another. Make every truth tenfold your own by passing it on."
Missionary A - possessed some strawberry plants which he shared with Missionary B - who came to live beside him. That year Missionary A's plants were all destroyed by insects and Missionary B - gave back to Missionary A - half his plants. So all the plants which Missionary A - possessed where what he gave away.
The Holy Spirit - The Divine Teacher, Guide and Revealer
There is no reason for ignorance of divine things on the part of any Christian who can read, for God has not only furnished us with a Text book but with a Teacher: He has given us not only a Guidebook but a Guide: He has unfolded to us not only a Revelation but has bestowed upon us the Revealer.
John 14:26, "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you."
John 16:13, "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come."
1 Corinthians 2:9-10, "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God."
Millions of Christians never have the opportunity to study the Bible in a theological seminary, Bible School or College. Comparatively few even have the privilege of being in a Bible class. But that does not exclude them from knowing all things which God has given in Christ to them that love Him. God not only desires but expects His children to know the way of life, how to enter upon it and how to walk in it. There are some things which God has not revealed unto us, but all that He has revealed belongs unto us and a full knowledge of this revelation is our birthright as His children.
Deut. 29:29, "The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law."
~Ruth Paxson~
(continued with # 18)
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