Life flows from the divine center. (See John 7.) He who comes to Me and drinks, the Lord said, "out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." This has a dispensational aspect, but it applies in the assembly at any time for the refreshment of all, taking in ministry to the saints, the young in Sunday school and those out doing the work of the Lord; all are related to the divine center. Notice in the passage about the woman having an alabaster box of ointment and anointing the head of Jesus in Mark 14:3-9, He says "Me" twice. He comes first. "This do in remembrance of Me." And so it is in all Scripture.
What flows outward, flows from the throne of God. "He that is not with Me is against Me; and he that gathereth not with Me scattereth abroad." Matt. 12:30. Which side are we on? Gathering or scattering? There is plenty of scope for the poor, the lost, the thirsting, and His babes, but we have nowhere to lead them without being gathered ourselves, and having come into the truth of Zion. "For the Lord hath chosen Zion; He hath desired it for His habitation. This is My rest forever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it." Psa. 132:13, 14. This is God's center. Notice what follows. "I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread." v. 15.
In the future, God's blessing to the whole earth will radiate out from Zion—His heavenly center and the administration of grace. Even now it can be found; let us seek it and never leave it. It is pure grace and not on the ground of our responsibility. We have all failed; every system is a witness to scattering, but there can be, and is, a witness to gathering to God's center through the power of the Spirit. Has the Spirit failed? No! Let us be in the current of His guidance. Today the Spirit gathers us to God's Son, and God is faithful for His Son. (See 1 Cor. 1:9.)
There is the Lord's Table and spiritual plenty, a refreshment for all gathered to His name "till He come." We all believe His coming is very near. Will He find us "gathering" by the Spirit's power or "scattering"?
M. Priestley
We hear much today about
the broad and narrow;
we have to be just as broad
and as narrow as the Word of God