The Guarantee of Success
Certainly I will be with thee. — Exodus iii. 12.
The thoughts which arise in connection with this inspiring assurance are such as ought to touch our life at every point. God is the unchanging one. As He had been with Moses, so He promised to be with Joshua; and so from age to age He is the inspiration and strength of His moral creatures. Take this assurance as applying to the whole service of sanctified life, and it entitles us to draw four practical inferences: —
I. Certainly I will be with thee.’^ — Then man is SERVANT, NOT MASTEE. He should know his place, or he can never keep it. As servant, he should (1) constantly consult his Master; (2) constantly seah in the name of his Master; and (3) constantly be jealous of the honour of his Master.
II. “Certainly I will be with tliee/^ — Then the WORK MUST SUCCEED. What is the guarantee of suc-^ cess? (1) Not human cleverness; ministers may be clever so may churches,, etc.; we may have learned sermons, able sermons, ingenious sermons, etc.; (2) not shilfid organisation. Cards, bazaars, registers, circulars, etc., all useless as ends. (3) The tvord of the Lord is the guarantee of success. ^’ The mouth of the Lord hath spoken it y” My word shall not return unto me void.^^
III. Certainly I will be with thee.^^ — Then the
SEEVANT IS TO BE RECEIVED FOR THE MaSTER^S SAKE.
‘’ He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth Him that sent me.’*^ The true minister carries a blessing mth him. The Romans were to receive Phebe in the Lord. What a .lesson to ministers — they are representatives of God!
IV. “Certainly I will be with thee.’’^ — Then there NEED BE NO LACK OF GRACE OR POWER. “If any man lack wisdom,^^ etc.” Lo, I am with you alway,^^ etc. “Ye have not because ye ask not, or because ye ask amiss.” The servants may take counsel of one another, but not to the interruption of continuous and trustful prayer to the Master. (1) God is with
His servants for their comfort; (2) for their guidance; (3) for their safety.
Application — Notice (1) the individuality of the promise “I will be with thee ^’ — with the one man; (2) the emphasis of the promise — ‘^ Certainly.” Who is with us in our life-ministry?