GIVING THANKS TO THE FATHER
GIVING THANKS TO THE FATHER
This epistle would bring about in the saints that heavenly constitution that is so pleasing to God. We are on the threshold of Canaan, heaven itself. God looks for a reflection of what is in heaven from His people, and this verse among other features in the epistle, bears it out. The saints are partaking of heavenly joy, giving thanks to the Father. What we have is limited and provisional, not that we may not, according to spiritual energy, enter into it largely, but we have here the portion of the saints, and the earnest is not the whole thing.
The division of the inheritance in Joshua was among the nine and a half tribes by Joshua and Eleazar, but on the other hand, we are to divide it among ourselves. There are no limitations on God’s side; it is nevertheless according to our capacity so that there are limitations on our side. The portion of the tribes was according to their capacity. The Lord has provided for us while awaiting our translation; we are already constituted heavenly. The Lord has brought before us a wonderful portion.
The Lord Himself through David says prophetically: “I have a goodly heritage” Psalm 16:6. We can take up that language. What we have is the portion of the saints in light. The Father has made us meet to be partakers of it. Christianity is in the light as God is in the light, and our fellowship is with one another. In Corinthians the fellowship is of God’s Son — of His death, His blood, His body; it also speaks of persons, for it is with one another. The portion of the saints — what a thought! — called saints, and we have a portion together; and the [p. 314] Father has made us meet for the partaking of it. We may well give thanks. What has God wrought! His great love has quickened us together with Christ. Even if I think of my deliverance from the world, we may well be found in this holy joy, “giving thanks to the Father”.