MORAL POWER

SUMMARY OF AN ADDRESS AT WIMBLEDON

He who proclaims the word as in 2 Timothy 4: 2 is in the dignity that comes from the knowledge that that word will eventually triumph. Though, on the one hand, he recognises and accepts that what is of God is in reproach here, yet, on the other, he recognises that it must be triumphant in the end. Every servant is below his testimony in one way; that is to say, he has far more light than has yet become effective in him; but still, if he is sincere, and is exercised on the line which the light indicates, he will encourage others to follow with him. The point with us ought to be, how far are we governed by what we proclaim? How far are we formed by what we speak of? Are we in accord with the light we present? The latter chapters in 2 Timothy are a moral answer to the testimony in chapter 1. One feels often the lack of moral power with us; it is in consequence of where we are practically, of where our souls live. If we are in the presence of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, what power there is in the word; how effective it becomes. In Mark 1 the Lord enters into the synagogue, bringing with Him all the power of God, for He was with God, and the result is that evil is detected; He was with God, and the power of His service was marked by that. So our service depends on where we are morally; power lies not in the amount we know, but in what we are. We must be with God to be able to detect what is merely mental and what is moral; we need to be morally affected by the truth; and when it has truly affected us personally, then our word will be with power; evil will be detected, and it will be effective in good.

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From ‘Mutual Comfort’, 1913