Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded

by H. J. Vine.

“Love to All the Saints”

The love of God told out in Christ upon the cross of Calvary has been shed abroad in the hearts of those who have believed the gospel, and it has produced what the law demanded but could not secure—love to Him who first loved them. God and His love are now known. “Everyone that loves is born of God, and knows God.” Such love Him and all those who are begotten of Him. They have not seen God, but they see their brethren in Christ, who, like themselves, partake of the divine nature. His word is not therefore grievous to them when it says, This is His commandment, that we believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and that we love one another as He gave us commandment (1 John 3:23), for their love goes out to “all the saints” of necessity, because of God’s love which is in their hearts. That love is without partiality. It embraces all. And when God commands love to one another, and when Christ commands it, and when the Spirit inspires the apostle to write these commandments, the hearts of those in whom the love of God dwells are divinely gladdened and assured: they are strengthened in their confidence before Him; for that which they are instructed to do is just that which they long to do; and they find true joy in putting the same into practice: the opposite would cause them grief.

We are not overlooking the difficulties that exist on account of the corrupt state of the assemblies of Christendom. The truth which is before us was given in view of that. In spite of the failure of the assemblies, the Spirit has given through John that which is vital and abiding that our “joy may be full.” The outgoing of love to all who belong to our Lord Jesus Christ is to be cherished and furthered in every way possible. To check it is certainly not the work of the Holy Spirit. Indeed, to love one another is an obligation which the love of God has given to us. If He has loved us as He has done, it is said, “We ought also to love one another.”

We must not ignore this, for the Spirit says, “He that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom be has not seen?” and, “If anyone hates his brother, he is in a hopeless state—in darkness (1 John 2:9)! He may “say” he is “in the light!” but that only makes his condition all the more serious. Professing to be a Christian—a brother, claiming to be in the light, yet in reality he is a benighted stranger to both divine light and love. Still more awful, if possible, is the case of anyone who says he loves God and yet hates his brother. We are told that he partakes of that which is directly satanic—“He is a liar” (4:20). He may claim to be faithful, to be true to God, to stand for Him at all costs, to love Him, but the father of lies has sway over him and not the God of truth and love. All this is made known for the benefit of those who are truly the children of God, so that they may not allow any high-sounding talk to hinder their love going out to “all the saints”—to all their brethren in Christ.

Divine Love Manifested

We have said that it is the love of God known in the heart that leads to this love towards “all the saints”; and that it is the commandment of God and the commandment of Christ which show us the channel wherein the Spirit gives grace and power for this love to flow. Therefore the more we dwell upon the great love which is told out to us in Christ, the stronger and fuller will be the tide of divine love which we shall show to one another in the truth and in the energy of the Holy Spirit. This love did not originate with us. The blessed fountain from which it flows is the heart of God Himself. Nor did its activities for our blessing begin at the time we were justified and cleansed by the blood of His Son. When we were lost and sinful, even then that great love went after us. “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” How wonderful! and yet it was His way—the way of our adorable God and Father. He loved us; He still loves us; His love to us in all its infinite perfection in His Son was manifested when our need was beyond description. “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.”

“Sure love so amazing, unmeasured, untold,

Since Christ it has given, no good will withhold!”

We are not told to search into our own hearts to discover this love. “God commends His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” There it shines for our faith to feast upon. “Hereby perceive we the love because He laid down His life for us” (1 John 3:16).

“What led Thy Son, O God!

To leave His throne on high,

To shed His precious blood,

To suffer and to die?

’Twas love, unbounded love to us,

Led him to die and suffer thus.”

Nought could turn Him from the path in which His love was so severely tested. “Having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end.” Onward the Son of God goes to the cross. Forward He presses to the finish. He faces the pitiless storm that beats so fiercely against Him! He treads the thorny way which He knows leads to death. He sets His face as a flint to accomplish His stupendous task! Without human support or sympathy He bows in prayer, and sweat as it were great drops of blood bursts from His holy brow as He looks into the cup that He must drink. The armed band with lanterns and torches, led by Judas, bind and take Him. He stands before the high priest, and before Pilate—before Jew and Gentile, and receives neither mercy nor justice. Away with Him! Crucify Him! the rabble cries. And He! “The cup which My Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?” Alone, despised, forsaken, acquainted with grief, smitten, afflicted, He goes to Golgotha bearing His cross. There they crucify Him. But He laid down His life of Himself. He loved us and gave Himself for us. Blessed, adorable Lord and Saviour, there is none in heaven nor upon earth like Thee!

The Circle of Divine Love

Risen now, and ascended to the Father’s throne, He has redeemed us, and brought us into the light, His blood having cleansed away every sin. And like those who fed upon the peace offering of old, we can now feast in communion together upon the love of Christ, and have fellowship one with another. We can put the truth into practice now, and rejoice with joy unspeakable before the Father and the Son. The Father sent the Son: the Son has brought us to the Father. The Father loves us: the Son loves us: we are to love one another. It is said, “Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God.” The joys and communion and relationship of this blessed circle cannot be taken cognizance of by the world. Therefore it is added, “The world knows us not.” Our portion is outside its circle of interests. The world loves its own, and those who are in life and in the light love one another. This gives the consciousness of the entirely new state and position into which we have been brought, even as we read, “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loves not his brother abides in death” (1 John 3:13-14).

This last statement shows clearly that it is impossible to walk in the light or carry out the truth if love is absent. It is easy for a cold ecclesiastic or a mere religionist to say, we must maintain divine principles at all costs! But such language often betrays a hardened state of heart. Moreover, the principles are not divine which deny, in theory, or practice, or both, the nature and character of God. Again, one sometimes hears, It is no question of love but of truth. This also shows a wrong condition of mind and heart, as we have just shown. Truly, where divine love and life are there is also obedience to every word of God; but, mark well, my beloved brethren, the outstanding commandments of God and of Christ are connected with love to the brethren—to “all the saints.” Don’t let us shirk this! Let us sincerely confess to Him how short we all come in the practice of it; but let us not give it up, or seek to check it in others; but rather let us take the divine way to have increased grace to carry it out. “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.”

It may be said, This is all the family side of things. Reply might be made, If the family relationship and love were maintained in divine grace and power, there would be no failure either in assembly order or gospel testimony; but if the mainspring is wrong, then all is out of gear. It was first love which was first left. But, surely the apostle, who was used to unfold the truth concerning the assembly and the mystery, also showed that this vital truth of divine love was absolutely essential. Did he not write, “Follow after love”; also, “If any man love God, the same is known of him”? and, “Love edifies”? Did he not speak of it as the “more excellent way?” and, in the letter which shows the glorious administration of the mystery according to eternal purpose, he exhorts the saints to be “imitators of God as dear children and walk in love, as Christ also has loved us” (Ephesians 5:1-2). Assembly, and kingdom interests also, should surely be best understood in the royal family, where the Father and the Son are known. It was Paul who used the words at the head of this paper. He told the brethren at Ephesus and at Colosse that he gave thanks and prayed for their prosperity on account of their faith in Christ and “love to all the saints.” Peter likewise says, “Ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.” There is something divinely encouraging and pleasant in the expression used so freely by all the apostles—“Brethren.” The blessed Lord Himself thus spake of His own. We are told, “He is not ashamed to call them brethren.” This embraces all who are Christ’s—all the saints. They are all in the circle of divine love. To insist, even successfully, upon principles at the cost of this; mark, we say, At the cost of love! is to have a shell without the kernel, a cold statue without life, a false bird in fine feathers, an assembly without God and without Christ, ready to be spued out of His mouth. To be without divine love is to be without God, for “everyone that loves is born of God, and knows God. He that loves not knows not God; for GOD IS LOVE. He that dwells in love dwells in God, and God in Him.”

Difficulties in the Practice

Some of the most zealous ecclesiastics have been loveless men. They have ostracized many of the choicest saints of God—always pleading the maintenance of principles and order. Some they have slandered, and even slain or burned. It is not without profound significance that the only mention of the assembly in the Gospel and Epistles of John fixes our attention on that place-loving ecclesiastic Diotrephes. Was he marked by “love to all the saints”? Truly he was prominent in his zeal for casting brethren out of the assembly! but, in all his zealousness, Did he love the brethren? Nay; his zeal was evil and not good. To overstep the mark in ecclesiastical procedure is a serious matter; and the zeal of many has carried them far beyond the instructions of the Scriptures. They have meted out to devoted saints that which is for “wicked persons.” Behold the result on every side! Nevertheless, the real need not be surprised, for all was foretold, and “love to all the saints” is still the hallmark. It is most significant that the very last words of the Spirit in the Bible are, “THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST BE WITH ALL THE SAINTS” (New Translation)! After all the failure has been shown, this is the Spirit-expressed desire of the heart. Christ loved all the saints, and gave Himself for all. He loved the assembly—not just a part of it—and gave Himself for it. Viewed as the body, we are all alike members; and it is said, “The members should have the same care one for another.” A few of the members have no authority to form an independent company of their own. As the bride of Christ, the whole assembly will be presented to Himself in glory. As the house of God, all are now built together for a habitation in the Spirit. As the flock, the whole assembly was purchased by the blood of Christ. Those who follow righteousness, faith, love, peace, and call on the Lord together out of a pure heart, according to 2 Timothy 2, must of necessity maintain these unalterable facts practically.

Where mercy is not blended with truth, there can be no prosperity. Mercy and truth are met together in Christ; and it is said, “Let not mercy and truth forsake thee, for thus thou shalt find favour and good understanding (or success) in the sight of God and man.” Through our Lord Jesus Christ “grace and truth subsist” now, and when we receive of His fullness, it is not truth upon truth, but “grace upon grace.” Therein lies the secret for our spiritual success today. Ecclesiastical law-givers are often more stringent and burdensome than Moses; but it is indeed a double-dyed ministry of condemnation and death. Neither we nor our fathers were able to bear it. Those who were zealous for the law and for the temple when Christ was here, condemned His hungry disciples for plucking and eating corn on the Sabbath. The Lord pointed out what David did when he was hungry; also that the priests of necessity profaned the temple on the Sabbath days and were blameless, adding, “If ye had known what this means, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have CONDEMNED THE GUILTLESS” (Matthew 12:7). Is mercy rightly understood? Is grace rightly valued and shown? And love which “never fails,” from which grace and mercy flow—How much is it appreciated? John spoke of “love in the truth,” and of mercy, grace and peace “in truth and love.” It is this beautiful and blessed conciliation of divine qualities which is so necessary, and yet seems to be so lacking among those whom the apostle constantly speaks of as “Brethren,” and to whom he so often says, “love one another.”

The fact is, beloved brethren, where this vitality in the truth according to the divine nature is evident, the unreal go out of themselves. They are conscious that they are not of us. The light, the life, the liberty, and the love, enjoyed by those who “continue in the Father and in the Son,” is not to their liking. They lack the nature to appreciate these things. “He that loves not, knows not God.” Therefore John does not exhort us to put out, but to dwell in love. He says, They went out from among us, but they were not of us (2:19). The “us,” like “the brethren” in John, embraces, as we have said, all who are born of God, remember that—“All the saints,” as Paul puts it. It is Diotrephes who puts out, and puts out wrongly. If this sort of thing went on when apostles were here, we need not be taken by surprise by what happens today—in the close of this remarkable period; but, contrariwise, being forewarned of God, seek grace nevertheless to carry out His commandment and the commandment of Christ—to show that which is approved of the Spirit in Paul, “Love to all the saints.” The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. The family cry, “Abba, Father,” is found with each one, as he says, “Because ye are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” Thus our own kith and kin are known.

The Way of Prosperity

Finally, we must remind our hearts that our lesson is to be learned where divine love was manifested—in Christ: not in the success or failures of the saints. The spirit would ever turn the eye to Him.

Is there to be prosperity in the wealthy things of God? Then let our “hearts be encouraged, being united together in love, unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the full knowledge of the mystery of God; in which are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Is progress to be made in the apprehension of the wide range of glory of which our Lord Jesus Christ is the centre? Then He is to “dwell, through faith, in our hearts, being rooted and founded in love, in order that we may be fully able to apprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height.” Is there to be victory in our conflicts with the foes of the faith? then let there be prayer in the Spirit “for all the saints,” and for the preacher of the gospel (Ephesians 6:18-19). In the face of all sorts of difficulties it is said in Jude 20, “But ye, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, “keep yourselves in the love of God,” awaiting the coming of Christ. Here we see the divine way of prosperity;—the good positively before us, ourselves dwelling in God’s love to us.

This love produces love, as we have shown. It is the like which begets like. Moreover, let our hearts be reminded again, “This commandment have we from Him, THAT HE WHO LOVES GOD LOVE HIS BROTHER ALSO.”

“Love never fails.” With what exquisite tenderness its desires are expressed at the close of Ephesians by the pen of the apostle Paul, “Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in incorruption.” Do not our hearts say, AMEN?

“Love to the Brethren”

For anyone to be entirely devoid of “love to the brethren,” is a sure sign that he is still unregenerate. “He that loves not his brother abides in death,” we are told. There may be proud claims of light and righteousness, of being in advance of others, or of some doctrinal or ecclesiastical advantage, but the Word is emphatic, “He that loves not knows not God; for God is love.” On the other hand, it is said, “Everyone that loves is born of God, and knows God.”

The LORD HIMSELF gave a new commandment. Love is the fullness of the law; and the new commandment says, “Love one another as I have loved you.” The Lord Jesus was on His way to suffer and die for us when He said, “as I have loved you.” The disciples to whom He said that were about to be scattered and leave Him. One to deny Him. Yet He loved them through all, and said, “Love one another as I have loved you.” We cannot love the brethren too much, therefore. We may and do come short of the standard He gave, but to be absolutely without love proves that such an one is still lifeless Godward, though religious, it may be, even as Paul was before he was saved, “being exceedingly zealous,” as he said, “and profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals” (Galatians 1:14). When, however, God’s Son became the joy and rejoicing of his heart, instead of persecuting as formerly, he preached the “faith which works by love” (5:6). And he wrote, “Though I give my body to be burned (i.e., like a fanatic), and have not love it profits me nothing”; also, “Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love, even as Christ loved us” (Eph. 5:1, New Translation). What a change the true knowledge of God in Christ brings about!

If the entire absence of love to the brethren proves the death state of such, knowledge of the opposite is granted to those who have that love, for we read, “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren” (1 John 3:14). We may not love all the ways of some; but we love the brethren. Our measure may be very small, but those who are born of God do love the brethren. It is striking that the last but one of the seven assemblies (Revelation 3), “PHILADELPHIA,” means “love of the brethren.” An “opened door” is granted to them right on until the Lord Jesus Himself comes again. None can shut that door. Attempts would doubtless be made, but it is an opened door, therefore all such efforts fail, thanks be to God.

Another encouraging word of assurance is given: “Everyone that loves Him that begat loves him also that is begotten of Him,” and, “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments … and His commandments are not grievous.” As someone has said, “His commandments provide channels for the new nature to flow in.”

That we should increase in this is the Holy Spirit’s expressed desire for us. “We beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more” (1 Thess. 4:10), for “Ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren.” Our LORD JESUS CHRIST loves all and has redeemed us all by His precious blood. All are born of God. All are indwelt by the HOLY SPIRIT. All address GOD as “FATHER,” and happily they may follow together Him who is “not ashamed” to call them “BRETHREN.”

Lovers! Of What and Whom

God’s own love has begotten a family which loves Him, so that we read in the Word of “them that love God” (Romans 8; 1 Corinthians 2). His love is declared to be “His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins;” and we are called upon to behold the manner of His love, in that nothing less would satisfy Him but we should be His children.

The lovers of God are lovers of the brethren; for it is said, “Everyone that loves Him that begat, loves him also that is begotten of Him” (1 John 5:1); or, as the apostle to the Gentiles so often writes, they are marked by “love to all the saints.” Moreover they are distinctly shown to have that of which unbelievers are void, “the love of the truth,” The truth of God is valued by them increasingly, they are lovers of the truth. Jesus said, “They that are of the truth hear My voice.” Above all, grace has wrought so wonderfully and divinely with them that at a time when the One who is “the Truth” personally is being denied His true glory, they have the precious privilege of being true and loyal to Him, who is the delight of the heart of God, our Father, for they “love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity;” (Ephesians 6:24). they are lovers of the Lord.

As they prosper in light and love, the excellencies and virtues of that which is divinely beautiful will manifest themselves through these lovers of God. He has received them into His house of plenty, as we learn from the story of the prodigal. And as they rejoice in His love and all that it has done and is doing and will yet do for them, they become like Him and are instructed to be “lovers of hospitality” (Titus 1:8). And while doing good unto all, lowly men and good men are to find a specially welcome place with them, for they are to be “lovers of good men” (Titus 1:8). Like God Himself, their Father through infinite love, His children are “Lovers of that which is good.” Each one is a “lover of goodness.”

Guidance also is given in Romans 13, as to how those that love God should act towards earthly authorities ordained of God. Though they are the children of God with heavenly glory as their destiny, they are to be rendering to all what is due. They are to “Owe no one anything, unless to love one another: for he that loves another has fulfilled the law.” And further, “Love works no ill to its neighbour: love therefore is the whole law.” In every circle love triumphs. It is written, “Love never fails.” “Everyone that loves has been begotten of God, and knows God.” The manifestation of divine love is found where the love of God is believed and known. With the redeemed, of course, both the measure and the manifestation are varied and limited, but in God’s Son it is perfect in every way, and there is such a thing as being made “perfect in love” (1 John 4:18)

The law is not contrary to this. Love is the fullness of the law. It is true that “they that are in the flesh cannot please God,” they may become religionised or Christianized ostensibly, but apart from the new birth and the sealing of the Holy Spirit, they cannot answer to God’s demand; for we are told also that the law itself could not produce in the unregenerate man what is pleasing to God. We read, “It was weak through the flesh” (Romans 8:3); nevertheless, sin having been condemned in the sacrifice of Christ upon the cross, and the Spirit having been given to those who believe, the righteous requirement of the law is fulfilled in us who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit (verse 4), for He it is who sheds abroad God’s love in our hearts, and who also produces “delight in the law of God after the inward man” (7:22), and that in spite of the opposition of the law of sin in our members. Love to God and love to our neighbour is what the law required! The Lord Jesus said the second was like to the first (Matthew 22:39); but mark, it is the second and not the first! Response to God’s love comes before love rightly flows out to others. Attempted reversal of this order has produced dire iniquity. Pre-eminently the law demanded love to God; it could not produce it, but God’s own love has brought this about in those who are now His children. He revealed His love when Christ died and our hearts have been won by it.

The very fact that the law’s demand was love shows that it was God’s own nature which desired this; and that nature is love;—“God is love.” Nor does the law simply demand love from the whole heart as is sometimes said, but rather from the whole being! for we read, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:30-31). How encouragingly blessed and glorious then it is to know that what God’s own nature desired, He shall have in righteousness and holiness through the redeeming work of His Son, and in His eternal home He shall rejoice to have those who wholly love God! How glad are our hearts that He desires nothing less! How we bless His holy name that His perfectly proven love has produced love. What the law could not do, His love has done. “We have known and believed the love that God has to us. God is love;” and, “We love because He first loved us.” Love was desired and demanded, but being fully proved in the Son of God upon the cross, love has been procured responsively.

The Spirit of God having been given by our Lord Jesus Christ—He had secured eternal redemption for us upon the cross; after He had risen from among the dead; after He had ascended to the throne on high—delights to bring home to our hearts God’s own sovereign love. Therefore we do not find in the distinctive teaching to those who are God’s children any command or exhortation given to love God for as we have seen, God’s own love in Christ has secured this after the law had failed to do so.

We can only shortly indicate this; from whence comes the “way of more surpassing excellence”,—this which is the greatest—GREATEST? (1 Cor. 13). It comes from God, for it is what God is in Himself. Twice we are told so in the inspired writings—twice in one chapter—“GOD IS LOVE” (1 John 4:8, 16). “Love is of God”! He is love, therefore He loves. And, oh! if He sought it from all the heart, all the soul, all the mind and all the strength of man how greatly must He Himself (Who desired this) love the redeemed. And then His love is eternal (as well as everlasting in regard to our being brought into it), for although its manifestation and commendation are seen in the death of His beloved Son, nevertheless in itself, it has neither beginning nor ending. Like Himself it is from everlasting to everlasting. God is the supreme eternal Lover! And He shall be supremely and fully loved for ever by His redeemed ones who shall love one another amidst the rejoicings of eternity! Glory, glory, glory to His holy name!

You, all with deepest joy at length shall sing His love divine,

And praise His holy blessedness, sweeter than choicest wine

Yet even now, its favour flows the same as shall be ours

When heart and mind with soul and strength love God with all their powers.

He loved the world and gave His Son in view of the believer having eternal life (John 3:16). He manifested His love toward us by sending His only-begotten Son that we might live through Him (1 John 4:9), “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son a propitiation for our sins” (verse 10). He commends His love in Christ’s death for us while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8). How exceedingly wonderful all this is! It makes the heart uprise in worship. It has often caused also the glad repetition of the apostle’s words regarding all the saved, “I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height nor depth nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Yes, divine love is there. Faith beholds it and knows it there, “In Christ Jesus our Lord!” and His redeemed are in Him free from all condemnation; “’There is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” Love is there and also a new creation; but no condemnation. He bore all our condemnation on the cross; now He is risen and accepted in divine favour on high and we are taken into favour in Him.

When about to go to the cross in obedience to the Father’s commandment He said, “I love the Father.” And before He went forth from the presence of His loved ones (who were with Him in the large upper room furnished), He said to them, “The Father Himself loves you, because ye have loved Me, and have believed that I came out from God.” Again He said, concerning them, to the Father, “Thou hast loved them as Thou hast loved Me.” I must close! The subject is infinite! Brought so nigh, its glorious immensity stretches out far beyond us! Thankfully we rejoice with exceeding joy that our eternal Lover has secured “lovers of God” already, and they shall be to His glory for ever and ever.

“Made Nigh”

Favoured by the Son of God, there was one who enjoyed a special place of nearness to Him; “Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with Him” (John 12:2).

About to be dishonoured in the regal city, Jerusalem, Jesus received royal honour outside at Bethany. There they made Him a supper, which He graciously accepted. Lazarus, whom He had raised from the dead, sat with Him. Martha happily served, and Mary expressed becoming appreciation of the One in whose presence they were. Her treasured, fragrant and costly out-pouring filled the house with its sweet odour. Lazarus had good cause to rejoice greatly, and esteem highly the nearness which was his.

When the once rejected Joseph became lord of all Egypt, his brethren, not knowing who he really was, came before him. He received them, but not at the same table. The Egyptians set on for their lord “by himself and for them by themselves,” although “they sat before him.” Joseph keenly felt the position; and afterwards said to his brethren, “Come near to me, I pray you.” And they came near. Today we are brought near, but it is not our doing, “Now in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13).

Royal David sent for, and received at his table, lame Mephibosheth; who said to the king, “What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?” Said the royal father, “He shall eat bread at my table as one of the king’s sons.” And in such favoured freedom and nearness, “he did eat bread continually at the king’s table.” Those who are saved by grace today were once “dead in sins,” as Ephesians 2:5 tells us. Now they are “quickened together with Christ.” They have access to the Father by the Holy Spirit, being “the sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus.”

We have not only been redeemed from what held us, but we have been redeemed to God by the precious blood of Christ. He Himself went right beneath all our sins to save us, even unto death. But He was raised actually—physically—from among the dead by the glory of the Father, bringing us along with Himself in life near to Him.

“So near, so very near to God,

We cannot nearer be,

For in the Person of His Son,

We are as near as He.”

We hear the risen Son of God say, “My Father, your Father; My God, your God.” He has set us righteously free in the same relationship before Him. Indeed, Colossians 3:1 speaks of us as now being “risen with Christ.” Bless His Name!

Before that position had been secured for us, Lazarus was one of those that sat at table with Jesus, the Son of God. Lazarus was “dearly loved” by Jesus; and He had brought him forth from death and corruption. How blessed for him to sit at table with the mighty Son of God! Lazarus thus sat “with Him.” How do we sit with Him in faith today? Righteously made nigh in Him by His own work—made suitable to be there too. Do we rejoice in the nearness which love has made ours? Are we in true liberty there? Do we rest in His holy presence, as those that are “risen with Christ”?

Where even “two or three” today are gathered together to His Name, while He is still rejected, He Himself has said, “There am I.” Faith gladly and reverently recognizes His presence. He does not say, “There will I come.” He does not say, “At a certain moment I will present Myself.” No; but, “There am I.” He IS present! We may know this. He is always true to His word. He remains faithful. He never fails.

The faith which rejoices in the greatness and glory of “THE SON” rests in this abiding fact:—“All things subsist together by Him.” Surely then, the holy presence personally of such an One among His loved ones involves no difficulty. Resurrection declares Him to be Son of God—the resurrection of others by Him and His own also. In regard to Lazarus’ sickness, He Himself said, This is “for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.” And to Martha, when He was about to call him out from among the dead, He said, “If thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God.” Resurrection showed this. At His word Lazarus came forth!

It was for His glory, and for the Father’s too. This was indicated when Jesus said, “Father, glorify Thy Name.” And a voice from heaven said, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again” (John 12:28)—“again”—pointing on to the resurrection of Jesus Himself.

As “the Corn of wheat” He has been in death. And He said, “If it die it brings forth MUCH FRUIT.” Those “risen with Christ” are now become nigh, during the time of His rejection. But He is coming again in power and royal majesty soon. Then His well loved nation Israel—“the Lord’s people”—shall be brought forth like “life from the dead.” And they shall sing, “Blessed be the King!” The saved of the nations too shall awake and arise at the sight of His glory, and “all nations shall call Him blessed!” The much fruit from the death of Jesus shall also be the rejoicing of the heavens, as of the earth too.

Before the national sheaves are gloriously gathered around the true Joseph’s sheaf on earth however, Jesus will gather up the heavenly golden grain to His Father’s house. “Christ, the First-fruits,” is there already, gone to prepare a place for us. That special place of glory, of nearness, of liberty and of love, He Himself personally went to prepare. His own prepared place in His Father’s house is where He will have His loved ones near Him. “I will come again,” He said, “and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there ye may be also.” WITH JESUS!—What more can we desire?—“For ever WITH THE LORD!”

Lazarus was one of those that sat at table with Him in the home at Bethany. We shall be with Him in glory in His Father’s house. Near to Him eternally! He is not ashamed to call us brethren even now. But then, all like Him, as predestinated of God, the full fruition of eternal purpose shall appear—JESUS ALL GLORIOUS among many brethren. Made nigh!

This ends our reading for this session. Until next time, have a great day, and God bless.