THE STABILITY OF DIVINE THINGS
J. Spinks
I seek help, dear brethren, to give expression to a few thoughts gathered up from Lord’s day.
As we gathered round the emblems I was impressed with the wonderful stability that they convey to us. In the midst of an increasingly unstable world, there on the table before us was the divine answer to every problem that exists in the world at the present time. We sung
‘And love that, giving all, secures
The universe for God’ (Hymn 171)
How wonderful to feast our souls on the sacrificial love of our Lord Jesus. It is interesting that there are two important conferences this week, one in Japan relating to financial matters, and one in England relating to religious matters—what will they arrive at? They will arrive at nothing substantial. God has established everything in Christ. How wonderful to be among those who, through grace, have come to appreciate the blessedness of all that God has found in Christ. I thought of the time when they first gathered in the large upper room furnished.
The hymn says,
‘Thy grace, O Lord, has furnished now
A blessed, calm retreat’. (Hymn 326)
As we view the emblems we increasingly appreciate the fulness of divine provision, and we are brought into the blessedness of it. God has everything in Christ, but the saints are needed to fill out the glory. That is one aspect of the assembly, she is Christ’s glory, and we can see it as we gather, maybe in a limited way, but nevertheless it is there, indeed we are, as it says in James, “a certain first-fruits of his creatures”, James 1: 18. What God sees in the saints as surrounding Christ anticipates the world to come, when all things will be headed up in the Christ, the things in the heavens and the things upon the earth (Ephesians 1: 10). We have the privilege of gathering to remember Him and be affected by His holy movements into the great realm of divine purpose.
In reading Psalm 23 I had in mind the fulness of the divine provision for the believer. David knew what it was to have Jehovah as his shepherd, to make him to lie down in green pastures and to lead him beside still waters. Have we not proved something of that tonight as we have been engaged with Christ? How wonderful to be brought into this great area of blessing where we can have our affections quickened as engaged with Christ. He goes on to say, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil—for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me”. The rod may be discipline. We are in a day of much discipline, but we are not overwhelmed by it because along with it we have the staff, which I think involves priestly support. The intention of discipline is to turn us to Christ, to free us from things that hinder, so that we come more into conformity to that blessed Man who is the centre of God’s world.
Then we have the prepared table, reminding us of the exclusive character of the Lord’s table, it is not for the world, it is for those who love Christ, and own His rights in a world where He is cast out and rejected. I thought also of Mephibosheth who ate continually at the king’s table. That would be the height of privilege and is available for every believer. We have been reminded of the woman in Luke 7 who did not cease kissing the Lord’s feet. I think that continuity is a big challenge, we fluctuate so much, bright one day and dull the next. Eating continually at the king’s table will sustain us in the blessedness of being held in the love of Christ. Another thought that came to mind was the table of shewbread, typical of the saints maintained before God in all the worth of Christ. It is referred to as the pure table, and it is interesting that the height of the table of shewbread is the same as the ark, suggesting the level of
our standing before God. It is a blessed thing to realise that we are taken “into favour in the beloved”, Ephesians 1: 6. These are holy thoughts, dear brethren, that can sustain us and hold us according to the level of divine purpose. Never let our thoughts depart from that. We are living in difficult days, days of much weakness and failure, but there is no failure in Christ, the blessed Man who sustains all for the glory of God.
I trust these few impressions of Christ will encourage us and help us on our way. The psalmist goes on to say, “Surely, goodness and loving-kindness shall follow me all the days of my life”. Well, we can count on that, dear brethren love that never tires, love that bears us all the way. May our hearts be increasingly affected by the glory of Christ and by His love and support, for His name’s sake.
Word in meeting for ministry, Grangemouth
8 July 2008