THREE CLASSES

THREE CLASSES

I find three classes of saints now: the first have attachment to Christ, the second know association with Him, and the third know union with Him. How would you distinguish the one from the other? The first is trying to keep it up, the second is trying to get up, and the third is sure of both and is marked with a sense of identity of interest with Him.

We ought to cross over Jordan in spirit, practising our hearts, as it were, so that when the race has to be run we may do it well! Great sorrows are often as way-marks in our history - a natural anchor held ^[p. 494] you to a locality up to this - may the Lord Himself be your Pilot now, that you may praise Him with joyful lips. May you be like Jacob able to say, the Lord is in this place and I know it! Jacob did not know it. I believe it is of the greatest importance the way we begin with regard to anything. May you begin with the Lord, “Honour the Lord with ... the firstfruits of all thine increase” (Proverbs 3: 9). The Lord bless you and make you a blessing. Elisha’s clothes must be rent to make place and appreciation for Elijah’s mantle.

The nearer we are to the Lord the better we fill every duty appointed by Him. It is plain that the power of God is required to effectively carry out every duty ordered by Him. Hence the more we understand what it is to come from heaven, as we find in Ephesians, the better every duty will be discharged by us. What matters any circumstance or position in life if you are not hindered from serving Christ, and if your heart is at liberty to enjoy Him to the full!