I’m sure every one of us can say with David, “A day in thy courts is
better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of
God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.” God has been more to us than
we could expect Him to be. Worldly expectations invariably don’t come
up to the mark. “From the best bliss that earth imparts, We turn
unfilled to thee again.” He has taken us into His banqueting house and
His fruit has been sweet to taste.
It is a lovely thing to come into the shade after having a long walk in
the sun. How good we can come under His shadow and taste of fruit sweet
to our taste. Some of the meetings have been the most searching I have
sat in. God seems to have been taking stock. While there is stock taking
there is stock replenishing too. I would like to come with a soft and
tender heart. There were three searching questions put to others in
Bible days and they could be put to us today. It is a simple question
and just requires a straight answer.
Ruth was steadfastly minded to go all the way. Twice she was asked to go
and return to her country. She could not go back. Why couldn’t she go
back? It was because her heart was won. There was never a thought in her
heart to go back. She was steadfastly minded to go all the way. She
didn’t know what she was going to in a strange land but she learned to
love and admire that one who was in tune with God. If our heart is won,
there will never be any thought of going back. “Come brothers on and
forward, With us the Father goes .... Praise God we will go on.”
Columbus felt sure of finding land even though his crew were not so
hopeful. It was not smooth going and no one had gone that way before,
and over and over they said, “We will go back.” But every time Columbus
said, “We will go on.” In the log book each day it was written, “And so
we sailed on.” I looked at the question Ruth’s mother in law put to her,
“Where hast thou gleaned today? and where wroughtest thou?” Where have
we been during the year? What have we wrought? Have we been gathering
material for eternity? Time is one of God’s greatest assets to man and
the sacrifice of time one of the hardest there is. The adversary of our
souls will see we won’t have time. Pharaoh said to the children of
Israel, “Ye are idle.” “We’ll give you more work to do.” The adversary
would keep us so busy today. It is very easy to waste time. There are
places we could be gleaning that wouldn’t be any help. Naomi said to
Ruth, “Go not to glean in any other field.”
There are places that are not good for children of God to be found.
There are places a child of God could frequent, and those that know them
would wonder what you are doing there. There are places in Malaya that
have this notice up, “Out of bounds to the troops.” Whether Australian
or natives of country, they know it is not good for them to be in those
places that are out of bounds. We are soldiers of the King of Kings.
There are no notices up, but there is something that tells us that it
is no place for us to be found if Jesus should call us that day. Ruth
had stood by the maidens; she stood fast. It is a lovely thing to stand
by those who are in God’s harvest field. There are bits of encouragement
all along the way. No, we will never lose if we are gleaning in the
place where God wants us to be. There is every help for those who stand
fast in the place where God has put them.
In Luke 13 Jesus said, “What manner of communications are these that ye
have one to another?” Is that a searching question to you? What are our
communications one to another as we walk in the way or sit in homes.
Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your
mouth.” We can’t help hearing but we can help repeating. The only way to
pass on helpful communication to one another is keeping the line of
communication between us and God. It is our communication with God and
His dear children that helps us to pass on good communication.
These men had been discussing that which was near to their heart. If
Jesus were to draw near and ask us what our communications were, would
we be afraid to tell Him, or ashamed to tell Him. Someone said if we
could listen in to a record of all we have said in a day we might be
very ashamed.
A short question was asked three times. “What seek ye?” This was another
searching question. The Bible tells us what to seek, how to seek and
when to seek. “Seek me early and ye shall find me.” Early in the day
might be the greatest sacrifice you have to make in the day, but make it
and it will do you good. Without God’s presence we shouldn't dare to
go. “Seek the Lord while he may be found.” “When the Lord said unto me,
Seek ye my face, my heart said Thy face Lord will I seek.” The Lord does
speak to us. How are ye to seek? “If you seek me diligently with thy
whole heart ye shall find me.” Seek for the things of God as for hid
treasure. People put a lot of strength and time in seeking for the
things of the earth.
In the gold rush men and women were willing for anything. They left
homes and jobs in seeking for the earthly treasure. To find hidden
treasure calls for diligence. There was a great deal of time and
strength put in seeking for this wonderful treasure. We want to let
Christ come in, “in whom is hid all the treasures of the god-head
bodily.” We should be seeking not our own. If the love of God is in our
heart we will not be seeking our own. “Let no man seek his own, but
every man another’s wealth.” We are seeking one another’s benefits, not
seeking our own. We are going to be in the way of God and co-operate,
seeking to be a help to promote the wealth of God’s children.
We might only be one, but can do much with God's help. A worm and a
mulberry leaf make silk. It is very humble combination but something
very fine is produced. If we all are combined and seek to be a help to
one another, something very beautiful and fine will be produced. Every
claim upon the life of Jesus was subordinated to God’s claim. Paul said,
“I seek not my own profit, but the profit of many.” He lived for
others, not seeking his own. Moses, if he had been seeking his own,
could have been great. God said, “I will make of thee a great nation.”
Moses was very meek and meekness is just the absence of self. It was
very evident in the life of Moses, because he never sought his own. It
is a lovely thing to have in our hearts that we will seek not our own
but others’ welfare.
We are told what to seek. “Seek the Lord and his righteousness.” We want
to seek His face continually. After times of great blessing, usually
there will come times of great testing. We could be prepared to go forth
to times of great testing. We need to seek His face continually if we
want to prevail. “If thy presence go not with us, carry me not up
hence.” None of us are equal and we need to seek His face continually.
“Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness…” Seek not great
things for yourself. If we seek grace we’ll find a place, but if we
seek a place we’ll bring disgrace.
Joseph was asked, “What seek ye?” He gave wonderful answer, “I seek my
brethren. Is it well with them? Is it well with the flocks?” Are we
seeking the welfare of others? There was no question of Joseph not going
to his brethren. Their spirit to him didn’t alter his spirit to them.
Jesus said to His disciples, “Whom seek ye?” Jesus was asked, “Master,
where dwellest Thou?” They were seeking the Lord. If we are seeking to
get close to Jesus, how good it will be.
We can go forth wholly dependent on our beloved, so He can lead us on to victory.
U. Hedderman - 1958 - 3 Questions - Booyong,
No comments:
Post a Comment