The Lord presents His disciples to God according to His own thoughts of them, and His own love to them—what they were in their relationship to Him and to His Father. They are the joint possession of the Father and the Son. "They are Thine. And all Mine are Thine, and Thine are Mine; and I am glorified in them." John 17:9,109I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. 10And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. (John 17:9‑10).
It is an important thing, in these days especially, to see God's people from the standpoint from which He showed His people to Balaam (Num. 23 and 24), for that is what gives courage to pray for them, and to seek to help them on. Otherwise we might think that we see so little response, and there seems to be so little heart. But there is no less response in God's people now than there was then in the disciples of the Lord Jesus. What they actually were at that time is quite another thing, and when God occupies His people with His people, He occupies such with what they are in His own thoughts. That becomes the measure and standard of service to them.
Do you remember how Moses so failed when He was occupied with the evil of God's people? It is no more strange to see Moses in Ex. 32 and 33, than to see him again in Num. 11:10-1510Then Moses heard the people weep throughout their families, every man in the door of his tent: and the anger of the Lord was kindled greatly; Moses also was displeased. 11And Moses said unto the Lord, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favor in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? 12Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers? 13Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat. 14I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. 15And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favor in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness. (Numbers 11:10‑15). Here Moses left God out—it's "I," "me," "my," etc., and, "Thou layest the burden of all this people upon me." God's answer is verses 16 and 17, where He took away some of the Spirit that was on Moses and put it on the elders.
How different was the Moses we read of in Exodus 32! How he did plead with God, and there he was so burdened with all that they had just done. He said, "If Thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray Thee, out of Thy book." There he was in the power of the Spirit, but of course, it was God's grace in him.
It is so easy to get occupied with the evil among the people of God. I do not say that the evil is not serious, but what I refer to is the spirit in which we should be occupied with it, considering what they are as God's people.
The law of the Spirit of fife
in Christ Jesus hath made me
free from the law of
sin and death.
Romans. 8:2