THE DIFFICULTY INDICATES THE SUPPLY AT HAND

^[p. 93] THE DIFFICULTY INDICATES THE SUPPLY AT HAND

I am convinced that the way we act in the race is the correlative to the sight we have of Christ where He is. If you look at the difficulty or the barrier to be overcome in the race, you will never surmount it. But if you keep your eye on Christ you may run at it (as many riders do at a wall or fence) with your eyes shut, only to open them and see yourself safely over. He knows where I am, and He knows the path He Himself has taken in a like difficulty; we ought to have no difficulties but those which oppose and hinder the workings of His grace in us. Well; my eye is on Him, I know I am united to Him; as His I move on, and a path unknown to men unseen by men, is disclosed to me; the clue is given to me; I have the secret; I escape to where no one can follow me. The divine path - His own path, is opened out to me. If I look at it as a man, it seems like a trackless forest, an untrodden desert; but as I look to Him, I am led on step by step, so that the once threatening obstacles become a wall to me on my right hand and on my left. I am assured more and more that I am a member of Christ, linked absolutely to Him; and in my own proper life which is His, I am looking for Him to support me where He has set me, and to enable me to do as He would do in the circumstances. Every tree or flower is in accordance with the climate in which it grows; and so the climate of heaven produces its own growths, and the fruits also in the season. Man’s industry attempts to accomplish on earth naturally what is perfect for us spiritually from Christ in heaven. The commercial effort is to supply the commodities of all countries in each; thus the good of the whole earth may be enjoyed in any part of it, according to the need at the time. For the winter, wool and animal food; for the summer, cotton and fruits. Now when the eye is on Christ, be it winter or summer with us, we obtain ^[p. 94] the supply suited to the need of the new being, and answering to it - as wool and animal food for cold, and cotton and fruits for heat answer to the need of the body. The nature of the supply is according to the need. Our mistake often is that we offer goods, right in themselves but not suited for the time; winter goods when it is summer time, or summer goods when it is winter. Hence mere stores will not do. It must be the constant importation of the needed article, the fruit in its season, and in the season for it. “His leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” (Psalm 1: 3). The felt difficulty is the demand for the suited importation.

May your harbour be full of cargoes, only to discharge the vessel containing the needed article. All this comes from the eye being set on Christ. All supplies are there.

You will be greatly enriched as your soul knows the riches of Christ.