- Overcomer Literature Trust
- Swindon
- Wiltshire
RECKON ON GOD’S FAITHFULNESS.
By F. B. Meyer.
“Have faith in God” (Mark 11 v22).
In 1 Samuel 1 v18, we read of Samuel’s mother that, after she had poured out her soul to God asking that a son might be given her, she went on her way and took her place at the sacrificial feast with a happy expression on her face, “her face was no longer downcast”. If we knew all, I expect that we should discover that she felt no need to repeat her prayer, so sure was she that it had been granted, and that a child would be given. She reckoned on God’s faithfulness!
In John 4 v50, the nobleman who came up from the bedside of his dying son to seek the Saviour’s help, was so satisfied that his request had been answered, and his son was living, that he turned back home immediately. “Your son will live”, the Saviour had assured him, and “The man took Jesus at his word and departed”. He was confident that there was no further need for anxiety. He reckoned absolutely on the Lord’s assurance and knew that what He said must be so, and he was not at all surprised to learn, the following morning, that the lad was recovered. He reckoned on the Lord’s assurance and was at peace.
In Acts 27 v25 and 34, the apostle, resting on God’s assurance that He had given him the lives of all his fellow-passengers, was able to inspire such confidence in them that all of them took a meal together before daylight revealed the creek into which they could run the vessel. When once God had given him the promise, he felt that there was nothing more to do or fear. In other words, he reckoned on God’s faithfulness.
In the beautiful story of Ruth, we have an illustration of a similar reckoning on the assurance of a trusted man. Late one afternoon Naomi and Ruth, after a difficult journey, reached Bethlehem. Probably the old home, vacated years before, had remained untenanted, and there they sheltered, depending for their food on Ruth’s gleaning in the neighbouring fields. She met with good success, but the permanent improvement of their position could only come through some arrangement for her future. According to Hebrew precedent, she had a claim on a leading citizen, a near kinsman, who was universally respected and whose presence in the village council was the guarantee of righteousness. Naomi’s thought was constantly turning towards him and she rejoiced to learn that he was prepared to do all in his power to help them. The only difficulty lay in the attitude of a yet closer kinsman who might assert his prior claim.
The solution of this matter had to be decided by the village council. Hour after hour passed in their leisurely formalities. In the meantime the two women awaited the verdict. The elder woman had faith in the care of God’s providence and felt sure that all would be well. Ruth, who was sitting with her in their cottage, found it hard to be patient. She kept rising, going to the door, looking up and down the street, feverish with excitement and unable to contain herself amid the lights and shadows that chased each other across her heart. Finally Naomi could bear it no longer and said, “Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today”. Presently Boaz entered to say that all was settled. The next kinsman had withdrawn his claims and the way was clear for him to buy the property and the field, and to take Ruth in marriage. After the night of weeping came the morning of joy. So these two women were able to sit quietly waiting, because they trusted on the faithfulness of a man. When we have placed our cause and need in the hands of Christ, let us sit still, assured that He will not forsake nor fail. “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him”.
These three illustrations of the rest and peace which enter the heart that has learned to trust divine or human faithfulness will point the way that we must tread when we are troubled as to the issues and results of our prayers. Hand your burdens over to God by an act of childlike faith. Then trust in Him and dare to believe that He has assumed entire responsibility.
Reckon on God for forgiveness.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive them, and to cleanse them away for ever. If we continue pleading for forgiveness of the same sins, day after day, are we not accusing our Heavenly Father of misleading us? When God forgives, He forgets and casts all our sins into the depths of the sea, and they will never be seen again.
How deeply it must grieve our Heavenly Father, if after all His assurances, we still ask Him to forgive the same sins. We may be sorry that we ever sinned but this is perfectly consistent with the consciousness of forgiveness. Obviously we must constantly examine ourselves when we pray as to the way we have been thinking, speaking and acting, in case there is need for confession of some recent sin. We are constantly needing to be cleansed, but as our Lord said, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet, his whole body is clean” (John 13 v10). Reckon on God’s absolute forgiveness of confessed sin, and at the same time be equally careful to forgive others who may have sinned against us. Remember the verses Mark 11 v25-26.
Reckon on God for answers to prayer.
When once we have deliberately handed a matter over to God, we must dare to believe that He has taken it in hand and that though He may keep us waiting, He will not rest until He has finished it. “The Lord will fulfil His purpose for me, your love O Lord endures for ever, do not abandon the works of your hands” (Ps. 138 v8).
Prayer is the co-operation of the human spirit with the divine. As a slight noise will sometimes dislodge an avalanche, so the prayer of faith sets in motion the power of the ascended Christ. In prayer there is union between the divine and the human, so that, as the human body of our Lord provided the channels along which the divine life-power was able to reach us, so the prayer of faith opens a wide channel by which God's grace and providence may come to us.
True prayer has two characteristics. First, we must allow the Holy Spirit to blow away what is inconsistent with God’s will. We cannot impose our will on God, but must wait for the solution of our life problems which He will most certainly grant, sometimes by a flash, at other times by the slow unfolding of His will. When we cannot solve our problem we must trust Him to deal with it in a better way, and He cannot fail. Second, we must cease to worry. However long the interval, however strong the combination of adverse circumstances, we may quieten our hearts in the patience of unwavering faith, sure that our Lord will not rest until He has finished the matter which we have entrusted to Him. Never forget to reckon on God’s faithfulness. He will never fail.
Reckon on God’s guidance.
By our surrender to Christ, we give to Him the right of access to hidden depths, and we become aware of the course of action we are to take. Our action will be confirmed by circumstances and by the gift of needed wisdom. Paul, kneeling in prayer, became aware that His life-work must lie among the Gentiles. Philip discovered that he must leave the revival which had just broken out in Samaria and wait on a wilderness track for a certain purpose to be made known to him. Paul arrived in Ephesus just after Apollos had left it, and tens of thousands, who we may never have heard of, have felt and obeyed the urge of the Spirit.
We must wait on God for guidance. We must cast on Him the responsibility of opening the way. The route, the companionships, the things we are called to leave, the preparation for things in the future must all be committed absolutely to His loving care and guidance. “Commit your way to the Lord, trust in Him and He will do this. He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn”’ (Ps. 37 v5-6). The best friend and adviser is Christ Himself. The wisest course is to place everything in His hands, asking Him to advise and control. He is “the Wonderful Counsellor’’, says the prophet. ‘’Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding”, says the Book of Proverbs, “in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight”. The extraordinary series of events which Samuel predicted as guidance to Saul will have their parallel in our experience too (1 Sam. 10).
Don’t worry. Don’t anticipate. Don’t fear. Sit still, my soul, sit still. Jesus, whom you have trusted, will not fail you. He will not rest until He has finished what you have committed to His care. Reckon on the faithfulness of your faithful Creator and Saviour. He cannot fail you.
“The soul that to Jesus has fled for repose,
He will not, He will not, desert to its foes.
That soul, though all hell should endeavour to shake,
He’ll never, no never, no never forsake”.
From: ‘Five Musts of the Christian Life’.