Grafton
Free Presbyterian
Church
A Brief Meditation for the Month
October 2020
Someone penned the words: “If nothing is too hard for Thee, all things are possible to me.” True faith in God, and in his word, can come to no other conclusion. Jesus told his disciples: “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God,” Luke 18:27. How blessed it is then to have such a God to trust. How important it is to be in a living spiritual relationship with such a One. The great apostle Paul discovered the value of such a relationship, when he testified, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me,” Philippians 4:13. He conveyed to the believers in the church in Corinth what the Lord had spoken to him, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2Corinthians 12:9. According to natural reasoning, personal strength—whether it be physical, intellectual, financial, or by way of social standing—is an asset. However, the thinking of the spiritual mind of the apostle was, “When I am weak, then am I strong.” 2Corinthians 12:10. How very different is the conclusion of the spiritually minded believer to that of the natural unconverted person when confronted with life’s scenarios!
God’s dear people find themselves, on many occasions, aware of their weakness. Sometimes they are laid low physically through illness. On occasions, some find themselves mentally exhausted or confused, and incapable of rational reasoning. In divine providence, circumstances develop in the experience of some under which they feel inadequate to deal with what confronts them. Because they are Christians, they know they are not exempt from the trials and troubles that are the shared experiences of humankind in general. However, Christians have the advantage; in that however weak they find themselves, they have a source of strength not to be found anywhere else but in their faithful God. By faith, the weakest Christian can draw upon the omnipotent strength and inexhaustible resources of the triune God. Those who have resources of their own to draw from do not feel weakness or need, but those who find themselves looking into the empty barrel when the meal has run out are no more destitute than the widow of Zarephath, 1Kings 17:12–16. Those adopted by grace into the family of God have access to Him as children to a father. They thus have the assurance of which Jesus spoke. He said, “Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of these things,” Matthew 6:32.
The children of God are counselled by the Saviour not to be anxious about the needs that arise in their experiences but to remember the fatherly care He takes of them—He knows all their needs; physical, material, and spiritual. Jesus reminds the children of God, “Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him,” Matthew 6:8. The apostle Peter, who was the recipient of so much care on the part of the Lord Jesus, wrote to scattered saints undergoing trials, encouraging them to commit their burdens and concerns to divine care. He wrote: “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” 1Peter 5:7. Peter wrote these words in the context of the need to be humble. Thus, the children of God need to be humble enough to take all their cares and troubles to the Lord. Not just some of them, but all of them.
Dear child of God, no one cares for you so much as your heavenly Father. What is impossible for you to do or to manage on your own is the very matter you are encouraged to commit to his loving, compassionate care.
G. G. Hutton.