"As the Father gave me commandment, even so I do."--John, xiv. 31.
Jesus as God-man had omnipotence slumbering in His arm. He had the
hoarded treasures of eternity in His grasp. He had only to "speak, and
it was done." But, as an example to His people, His whole life on earth
was one impressive act of subordination and dependence. At Nazareth He
was "subject to His parents." There He remained in studied obscurity,
occupying for thirty years a lowly hut, willing to continue in a state
of seclusion, till the Father's summons called Him to His appointed
work.
At His baptism, sinless Himself, He gives this reason for receiving a
sinner's rite at a sinner's hands--"Suffer it to be so now, for thus it
becometh Me to fulfill all righteousness." The same beautiful spirit of
filial _subjection_ shines conspicuous amid His acts of stupendous
power. "Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, Father, I thank Thee that
Thou hast heard Me; and I know that Thou hearest Me always; but because
of the people which stand by, I said it, that they may believe that Thou
has sent Me." Even among His own disciples His language is, "I am among
you as He that serveth." With an act of submission He closed His
pilgrimage and work of love. "Father, into Thy hands I commend My
spirit."
What an example to us, in all this, is our beloved Lord! Surely, if
_He_, "God only wise"--the Self-existent One, to whom "all power was
committed;"--the Sinless One, never liable to err, on whom "the Spirit
was poured without measure"--if _He_ manifested such habitual dependence
on His heavenly Father, how earnestly ought _we_, weak, erring,
fallible creatures, to seek to live every hour--every moment--as
pensioners on God's grace and love, following in all things His
directing hand! As the servant has his eyes on his master, or the child
on its parent, "so should our eyes be on the Lord our God." Howsoever He
speaks, be it ours with all docility to follow the voice, indorsing
every utterance of providence, and every precept of Scripture, with our
Lord's own words, "_This is the Father's will!_"
Beware of self-dependence. The first step in spiritual declension is
this: "Let him that _thinketh he standeth_!" The secret of real strength
is this: "_Kept_ by the _power of God_!"
How it sweetens all our blessings, and alleviates all our sorrows, to
regard both as emanations from a loving Father's hand. Even if we should
be, like the disciples of old, "_constrained_" to go into the ship; if
all should be darkness and tempest, frowning providences--"the wind
contrary;" how blessed to feel that in embarking on the unquiet
element, "the Lord has bidden us!" Paul could not speak even of taking
an earthly journey, without the parenthesis ("if the Lord will"). How
many trials, and sorrows, and _sins_, would it save us, if the same were
the habitual regulator of our daily life! It would lead to calm
contentment with our lot, hushing every disquieting suggestion with the
thought that that lot, with all that is apparently adverse in it, was
_ordained_ for us. It would teach us not to be aspiring after _great_
things, but humbly to wait the will and purposes of a wise Provider; not
to go _before_ our Heavenly Guide, but to _follow_ Him, saying, in meek
subjection, "Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty, neither
do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for for me
... my soul is even as a weaned child!"
"ARM YOURSELVES LIKEWISE WITH THE SAME MIND."
Twentieth Day.