"Gathering up the Fragments"

 •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 9
 
“Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Eph. 4:3232And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:32)).
The very essence of the gospel of the grace of God is divine tenderness. Without tenderness and gentleness of spirit even the most strict religious life is a misrepresentation of the true life of Christ.
Tenderness of spirit is preeminently divine. It is the fountain of God’s love within. True Christ-like tenderness overflows all mental faculties, saturating with its own sweetness the manners, expressions, words and tone of voice.
True Christ-like tenderness mellows the will, softens the judgments, melts the affections, refines the manners, and molds the whole being after the image of Him who was meek and lowly in spirit.
Such tenderness cannot be borrowed or put on for special occasions.
Lord Jesus, salvation’s source,
May we more Thy nature know;
Then more kindness and compassion
To Thy dear saints shall we show.
May the grace Thou hast imparted,
In relieving our complaints,
Make us kind and tenderhearted
To the feeblest of Thy saints.
“Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:1212Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; (Hebrews 12:12)).
The winner of the marathon had been declared almost an hour earlier. But then, out of the cold and early evening darkness, one last Olympic runner entered the far end of the stadium. Though exhausted and in obvious pain, hobbling with one leg wrapped in a bloody bandage, on he ran with stoic determination, never faltering till he had crossed the finish line.
A reporter asked him why, seeing he had no chance of winning, he had not retired from the race and saved himself so much suffering. Puzzled by the question, the athlete paused a moment and then quietly answered, “My country did not send me here to start the race. They sent me to finish.”
Let us run our course in this same steadfast spirit. Our precious Saviour set His face like a flint, never wavering, never turning aside from the path marked out for Him by the will of His Father (Isa. 50:77For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. (Isaiah 50:7)). His perfect devotion has left us an example that we “should follow in His steps” (1 Peter 2:2121For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: (1 Peter 2:21) JND).
In His sovereign will, our blessed God has chosen that we should walk by faith during a very dark, obstacle-strewn day. Moral and spiritual corruption abound and the enemy constantly casts stumbling-blocks in our way. But we are to press on, ever looking unto Him who has completed the course.
Our blessed Lord Jesus—“the leader and completer of faith” (JND)—now in glory, has His eye fixed upon each dear child, His hands uplifted in support and blessing. He is ever ready to grant the needed “grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:1616Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)).
It’s not time to give up or turn aside from the race we run by faith. Let’s so run that each may obtain the prize (1 Cor. 9:2424Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. (1 Corinthians 9:24)). “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:1414I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14)).
Ed.