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The
fatherhood of God is
common to all his children. Ah! Little-faith, you
have often said, "Oh that I had the courage of
Great-heart, that I could wield his sword and be as
valiant as he! But, alas, I stumble at every straw, and
a shadow makes me afraid." List thee, Little-faith.
Great-heart is God's child, and you are God's child too;
and Great-heart is not one whit more God's child than
you are. Peter and Paul, the highly-favoured apostles,
were of the family of the Most High; and so are you
also; the weak Christian is as much a child of God as
the strong one.
This cov'nant stands
secure,
Though earth's
old pillars bow;
The strong,
the feeble, and the weak,
Are one in Jesus now.
All the names are in the
same family register. One may have more grace than
another, but God our heavenly Father has the same tender
heart towards all. One may do more mighty works, and may
bring more glory to his Father, but he whose name is the
least in the kingdom of heaven is as much the child of
God as he who stands among the King's mighty men. Let
this cheer and comfort us, when we draw near to God and
say, "Our Father."
Yet, while we are
comforted by knowing this, let us not rest contented
with weak faith, but ask, like the Apostles, to have it
increased. However feeble our faith may be, if it be
real faith in Christ, we shall reach heaven at last, but
we shall not honour our Master much on our pilgrimage,
neither shall we abound in joy and peace. If then you
would live to Christ's glory, and be happy in his
service, seek to be filled with the spirit of adoption
more and more completely, till perfect love shall cast
out fear. |
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As the Father loves the
Son, in the same manner Jesus loves his people. What is
that divine method? He loved him
without
beginning, and thus Jesus loves his members.
"I have loved
thee with an everlasting love." You can trace
the beginning of human affection; you can easily find
the beginning of your love to Christ, but his love to us
is a stream whose source is hidden in eternity. God the
Father loves Jesus
without any change. Christian, take this for your comfort,
that there is no change in Jesus Christ's love to those
who rest in him. Yesterday you were on Tabor's top, and
you said, "He loves me:" to-day you are in the valley of
humiliation, but he loves you still the same. On the
hill Mizar, and among the Hermons, you heard his voice,
which spake so sweetly with the turtle-notes of love;
and now on the sea, or even in the sea, when all his
waves and billows go over you, his heart is faithful to
his ancient choice. The Father loves the Son without
any end, and thus does the Son love his people.
Saint, thou needest not fear the loosing of the silver
cord, for his love for thee will never cease. Rest
confident that even down to the grave Christ will go
with you, and that up again from it he will be your
guide to the celestial hills. Moreover, the Father loves
the Son without any measure, and the same
immeasurable love the Son bestows upon his chosen ones.
The whole heart of Christ is dedicated to his people. He
"loved us and gave himself for us." His is a love
which passeth knowledge. Ah! we have indeed an immutable
Saviour, a precious Saviour, one who loves without
measure, without change, without beginning, and without
end, even as the Father loves him! There is much food
here for those who know how to digest it. May the Holy
Ghost lead us into its marrow and fatness! |
