The Greatest Gift
“He that spared not His o-svn Son, but delivered him up for us all — how shall He not with him also freely give us ail things.” — KoM. viii. 32.
These are amazing words! God — the Infinite God — identifying Himself (so to speak) with the experiences of human sorrow; — silencing every murmur with the unanswerable argument — ‘/ spared not Viiy oicn Son. I gave my Greatest gift for thee; — wilt thou not cheerfully surrender thy best to Me? Canst thou refuse after this unspeakable gift of My love, to trust Me in lesser things? The Greater gift may surely well be a pledge for the of all needed subordinate good!
ne promises to give” all things;’’ — these
They will be selected and allotted by His loving wisdom; crosses as well as comforts — sorrows and tears, as well as smiles and jojs. Mourning one, this very trial wliicli now dims thine eye is one of these “all things.” Trust His faithfulness. He would as soon wound the Son of His love as wound thee I
“How sJiall Re not giveV There is a ‘blessed impossibility,” after the bestowment of the Gift of Gifts that He will inflict one unnecessary trial, or withhold one needed boon. Think of His love when He offered His Isaac on the altar. It is the same at this hour — Infinite — Immutable. Yes I We may well be reconciled, even to the denial of earthly blessedness, because ordered by Him who gave Jesus! Lying meekly in the arms of His mercy, be it ours to say in filial confidingness — “Lord, anything with Thy love — anything hut Thy frown I”
‘■’’ All things.’’’’ — The whole range of human wants and necessities is known to Him. The care He invites me to cast upon Him is “«?/ my care” — the need “all my need!” This is
His own special promise — “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things may abound to every good work.” (2 Cor. xx. 8). He will give me nothing and deny me nothing, but what is for my good. Let me not question the appointments of infinite wisdom. Let me not wound Him by one dishonoring doubt. Let me lean upon Him in little things as well as in great things. Aftei the pledge of His love in Jesus nothing can come wrong that comes from His hands! If tempted at times to harbor some unkind misgivings, let the sight of the cross dispel it. Looking to the Bow in the cloud gleaming with the words — “He loved me, and gave Ilim-’ self for 7726 /” be it mine to say —
Lord, though thou bend my spirit low,
Love only will I see;
The very hand that strikes the blow,
“Was wounded once for me.