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23

SATISFACTION IN CHRIST

C. H. Mackintosh

There are few things in which we exhibit more failure than in

maintaining vigorous communion with the perfect manhood of

the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence it is that we suffer so much from

vacancy, barrenness, restlessness, and wandering. Did we but

enter with more artless faith, into the truth that there is a real

Man at the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens—One

whose sympathy is perfect, whose love is fathomless, whose

power is omnipotent, whose wisdom is infinite, whose

resources are exhaustless, whose riches are unsearchable,

whose ear is open to our every breathing, whose hand is open

to our every need, whose heart is full of unspeakable love and

tenderness towards us—how much more happy and elevated

we should be, and how much more independent of creature

streams, through what channel soever they flow!

There is nothing the heart can crave which we have not in

Jesus. Does it long for genuine sympathy? Where can it find it,

save in Him who could mingle His tears with those of the

bereaved sisters at Bethany? Does it desire the enjoyment of

sincere affection? It can only find it in that heart which told

forth its love in death. Does it seek the protection of real

power? It has but to look to Him who made the world. Does it

feel the need of unerring wisdom to guide? Let it betake itself

to Him who is wisdom personified, and who “of God is made

unto us wisdom”. In one word, we have all in Christ. The divine

mind and divine affections have found a perfect object in “the

man Christ Jesus” and surely, if there is that in the Person of

Christ which can perfectly satisfy God, there is that which

ought to satisfy us, and will satisfy us, in proportion as, by the

grace of the Holy Spirit, we walk in communion with God.

(‘Words of Grace and Comfort’, 1958)