IT is not merely love we have to do with, power is on our side also. Love and power together shall form the scene we are to gaze on forever, as they have from the beginning been “workers together” for us, teaching us our wondrous resources.
See them thus working together in some little instances in the days of the Lord Jesus. Five thousand are fed with five loaves and two fishes. Fed to the full―and twelve baskets of fragments left! This tells the wealth of the Lord of the feast, as well as His kindness. And what satisfaction of heart does this communicate! If we draw on the bounty of another, and have reason to fear that we have partaken of what he needed himself, our enjoyment abates. This fear will intrude, and rightly so, and spoil our ease while we sit at his table. But when we know that behind the table which is spread for us there are stores in the house, such fears are forbidden. The thought of the wealth of the host, as well as his love, sets all at ease. And it is to be thus with us in our enjoyment of Christ.
So in using His strength as well as His wealth, His resources are immeasurable. Look at this in the scene of danger on the Lake of Galilee. He shows Himself on high above all the difficulty that was frightening the disciples. He walks on the tops of those waves and amid the blowings of those winds, which were bringing them to “their wits’ end.” What triumphant relief for them was this! Danger could be nothing in the presence of such a Deliverer. How easily could He manage a boat for them in the storm, Who thus controlled the storm without any boat at all! There was strength enough and to spare here as there was “bread enough and to spare” before, and they could not perish (Mark 6:48-5148And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. 49But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: 50For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. 51And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. (Mark 6:48‑51)).
Here are pictures of our resources! We draw on a wealthy Lord as well as a loving One. We use a mighty arm as well as an outstretched one, we consult a Physician Who can heal death as well as sickness. It is as David speaks, “the kindness of God” we enjoy. “A fullness resides in Jesus our Head.” We are fed and rescued and healed in ways worthy of Him Whose wealth and strength and skill know no measure. His resources, and therefore ours, are glorious and fathomless, and fragments remain, let who will draw on them. And the coming kingdom will disclose them to perfection.
Then after thus inspecting our title and our resources, I may just say as to the joy itself, the character of it will be worthy of its Giver, and will utter itself, as we find in some of the Psalms, in a loud noise, as from overflowing hearts, in all kinds of music. And joy of such rare quality this will be, that it will never satiate, never weary, never end, but still begin with more than earliest freshness.
J. G. B.