Daily Devotionals

Devotional: November 10th

"I will not let thee go, except thou bless me." - Genesis 32:26.

There is an erroneous idea of submission abroad in the world. Quite likely, the error obtains in the Church to some extent. There are many things in our condition here to which we are simply called to submit. God has placed them, and woe to him who would seek to displace them. But there are other things which have been placed in our way expressly that we might enter into conflict with them and overcome them. There are difficulties placed in our path, to give us opportunities of evincing what faith, courage, perseverance, wisdom, energy, prayerfulness, devotedness are in us. God with holds some things from us, with a prohibition; it is treason to go on seeking them; and he withholds other things, by way of incitation; that we may be stirred up to engage with all faith and assiduity in the search for them; and that the conquest of them may be the reward of valiant and all-conquering endeavor.

If we understand the Christian doctrine of submission, as implying that we are to drag ourselves feebly, faintly along the pathway of life; that there is to be no great forth-putting of power in connection with us; we understand it wrongly. Because we are the servants of God, are we therefore to be without energy, choice, decision, determination, perseverance? Is the voluntary part of our nature to be plucked up by the roots? Is there nothing in the way of enterprise to challenge the highest exercise of all our powers? Surely there is. Behold David, the Shepherd’s boy. When he saw the bear and afterwards the lion come near the flock, he did not say, " God hath sent these, and it would be fool-hardy or sinful in me to resist them," Perhaps he said, " God has sent these to prove me, that I may show what courage and fidelity and faith are in me,’’ At all events he engaged them in the name of his God and slew them.

When we ask and do not obtain, we are not always to suppose that our suit is dismissed: sometimes we are simply challenged by the silence of God to be more urgent, more believing. The Syro-Phenician woman would have done wrong had she gone away submissive, when Christ gave signs that her prayer was not to be granted. By faith Jacob had power with God and prevailed. Faith creates a new condition of things, so that it becomes expedient for God to grant what otherwise would have been withheld. He will say " No" to less faith and " Yes" to more faith. All things are possible to him that believeth. When we get nigh to God, let us make the most of our advantage. Let us obtain great blessings not only for ourselves, but for others. Let us view God as he is revealed at the cross, and not care much for the apparent frown of his providence, but contend with it and get the better of it, by faith.

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