Spiritual Distinction

“‘ Let your speech be always with grace.” — Cot. iv. 6.

In the apostle’s word the counsel is limited to the ministry of speech. But in truth it has a much wider application, and is so inclusive as to comprehend all the issues of our life. All the active expressions of the soul, whether of speech, or of looks, or of gesture, or of demeanour, or manners, or deed, are to be distinguished by a certain heavenly grace which is to bear witness that we are in alliance with the Lord of grace and glory. In the ranks of genuine aristocracy there is an air of fine breeding, displayed in unconsciousness and in natural ease, which tells the story of birth and high lineage. And in a far more distinguished sense the Christian is to reveal a grace, which is one of the marks of the Lord Jesus, and which endows all the expressions of his life with an indefinable but most attractive charm. It is one of the birth-marks of the highest aristocracy, that lofty fellowship which is ‘‘ born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Let us see how this grace is revealed. I suppose that, of all difficult things, one of the most difficult is to be a graceful loser. Even in the comparatively small matter of games it is a very fine distinction to be able to lose with grace. But, indeed, to lose anything, and yet visibly retain the grace of the Lord Jesus, reveals a wonderfully arresting character, and the compelling charm is all the greater as the things we lose excel in value. To lose money and not lose one’s grace is a noble attainment. To lose health, and to keep the grace of the Lord Jesus, is nobler still. To lose our loved ones, and in our dull bereavement to retain the holy grace like starlight in the night — that is surely the noblest’ of all. Yes, the people who can be graceful losers are marked with great distinction. They must evidently belong to the spiritual aristocracy.

And yet there is, perhaps, something higher still. A friend writing of Lord Elcho, who was killed in Egypt, gives this very impressive testimony: ‘He achieved the infinitely exacting réle of felicitous winner incomparably well.’ That is a great phrase, and it is a great eulogium on the young soldier to whom warfare was a holy crusade. He was a felicitous winner! His finest triumphs were carried with a still finer grace. Everybody else shares in such triumphs; we feel they are ours as much as his. Some winners are very unattractive. Their success makes them proud, and pride is always exclusive, and no one wants to come near their fire. They have it all to themselves. But it is a very beautiful thing, and it is a commanding witness, when success of any kind does not mar us, and we are unspoilt by “the destruction that wasteth at noonday.” When grace thus abounds in all the issues of our life the people who deal with us begin to inquire about our fountains, and they are led to the eternal spring, even to “the grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”