THE following incident occurred to a young girl. She had given herself to the Lord Jesus, and she knew He loved her, because she believed He had said, “I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Matth. 9:13.
She felt she was a very great sinner, but she wanted some proof that He loved her individual self, and had accepted the poor, cold love of her heart, which was the best she had to offer Him. She wanted to feel certain that she was safe, and sure of spending eternity with the Lord Jesus, so one evening when she was deeply exercised about it, she prayed earnestly to her Father in heaven, that she might have some texts brought vividly to her mind during the night, as a proof that she was accepted in Christ, and of her future in eternity.
If she had only known, and rested on the unerring Word of God, which says, “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the goad pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved. In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace,” (Eph. 1:5-75Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:5‑7).) she would have had rest and peace in believing.
She slept and awoke; no verse had been brought before her, but the night was not half gone, so she composed herself to sleep again, feeling sure it would come. She slept, and on awaking again, she found herself repeating, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness.” Isa. 41:1010Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. (Isaiah 41:10).
What need to add more? Was it not enough to brighten her faith? For this reason it is written, that it may help and encourage others to place their whole trust and confidence in the Word and Wisdom of our loving Father and God, for truly His ways are wonderful.
We ought to believe God. His word is surely sufficient. But the Lord is very pitiful. See how tenderly He dealt with Gideon in Judges 6:36-4036And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said, 37Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said. 38And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water. 39And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew. 40And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground. (Judges 6:36‑40).
ML-07/04/1920