“THE APPLE TREE”
JOTTINGS FROM AN ADDRESS AT STREATHAM
9th January 1913
Song of Solomon 2: l-4; 8: 11-14
The measure in which we love Christ is shewn by the way in which we answer to that in which His love has been most fully expressed, that is, His death.
If we are not familiar with Christ in our individual pathway, we cannot be familiar with Him in assembly. If we manage to do without Him during the week - and this is very bad management - we cannot quickly perceive Him in assembly: there must be moral condition.
The Lord makes Himself known to condition, that you and I may know the shelter and satisfaction of “the apple tree”. The apple tree is the covenant of grace.
Intimacy with Christ is of the utmost value. No one will ever know the sorrow of solitude as Jesus knew it; no one will ever know the joy of companionship as Christ will know it. The apple tree answers to Habakkuk 3: 17, 18. The banqueting house answers to Zephaniah 3: 17.
One often hears the question, ‘Is life worth living?’ Life is worth living for His sake.
He will love you into fruitfulness, but He must have the credit for all.
Paul's desire was that Christ might be admired in the saints.
There is a great deal of discipline because we keep Christ at a distance. He says, ‘I claim you by my suffering love’.
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From ‘Mutual Comfort’, 1913