The Spirit of Grace
What spirit do we manifest?
The Lord has promised to be near to us in certain conditions of heart, for He is compassionate. He says, "The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart." Psa. 34:18. Have you had that kind of experience? A broken heart—how it hurts! Does it produce a contrite spirit? If so, the promise is that the Lord "saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all." Psa. 34:18, 19.
“There is a spirit in man," says Job in chapter 32:8. This is true of every one of us. The question we desire to consider is: what spirit do we manifest, and what spirit should be seen in the Christian? In the same verse Job adds, "The inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding." How very important that we go to the inspired Word of God For the understanding that we all need!
Solomon asked for and was given by God a wise and understanding heart (1 Kings 3:7-12). Much that wisdom and understanding is recorded in god's Word. In Eccl. 7 he writes, "The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. Be lot hasty in thy spirit to be angry." Many times the Christian is tested on these points. What spirit do we manifest?
Another verse in Prov. 16:32 says, "He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city." Also we see the opposite, sad picture in Prov. 25:28, "He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls." How exceedingly important it is, then, for each of us to have that control over our own spirit. In 1 Cor. 14:32 the word is, "The spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets." A prophet has control over his own spirit.
To His own disciples the Lord says in Luke 9:55, "Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of." They had not yet learned the spirit of grace that the Lord Jesus had come to show to all: precious, wonderful grace and truth that came by Jesus Christ (John 1:17). At the very commencement of His ministry, in His own city of Nazareth, it shines out clearly. He stands and reads a portion from Isa. 61, announces the gospel, and then closes the book, stopping short of the verses concerning judgment. They "bare Him witness, and wondered at the gracious words that proceeded out of His mouth." So it was with Jesus al] through His ministry in the gospels. In Him we have a perfect object lesson of a gracious spirit.
All of the New Testament writers (the apostles and prophets) learned something of this spirit of grace, and from the book of Luke on they have writ ten of it for us.
In addition to the spirit of grace we learn in 2 Tim. 1:7 that "God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." In this poor world it is so important for us to know and to rest in this full supply that we have in God.
It is also beautiful to see that Peter writes of an "ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." 1 Peter 3:4. As encouragement for those in fiery trials he writes in chapter 4 and verse 14, "If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the Spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part He is evil spoken of, but on your part He is glorified.”
The last verse of Galatians exhorts us, "Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit." This same exhortation is repeated in the last verse of Philemon. How important this is for us to remember and practice. Ed.