Romans 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? The greater ever includes the less. If an estate is bequeathed to me and becomes my own, I have complete possession alike of the whole and of its parts. I can thin the timber, or fell it and realise the gain. I can dig out the minerals and sell them, or build with them, or smelt them as I please. He who transfers to me his garden, conveys to me not only the plot of ground encircled by the fence, but its fruit-trees, shrubs, and flowers. He who spares not his own purse, but delivers it up for me, a free and loving gift, how shall he not with it freely give therewith the gold that it contains? But this is what I read concerning my Saviour: "It hath pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness dwell." Then "all the fulness" describes the extent of my resources, and Jesus says, "My joy shall remain in you, and your joy shall be full." I read of my Saviour, given for me, that "the Father hath committed all things into His hand"; then these, too, are mine; and Paul positively says so in as many words — "all things are yours, for ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's; having nothing, and yet possessing all things." I read of Him that "all power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth." And I read also that "He giveth strength" to His people, and that we are to be "strong in the Lord and in the power of His might." No wonder with such omnipotent resources that Paul says, "I can do all things through Christ strengthening me." No wonder that with the Lord for his Shepherd, David says, "I shall not want." Do not minify the lot of your inheritance. Cultivate large views as to the extent of your resources. Live near to God, strong in your loyalty to Jesus, and boldly draw even in the hardest times on the Bank of Faith. That can never fail, however great the run upon it; as long as God's exchequer endures your cheques will never be returned; your allowances during the days of your earthly minority shall be on a scale commensurate with the royal wealth of the King, your Father, and when the shadow of death on time's dial announces the attainment of your majority, then shall you come into full possession of your estate, the inheritance of those who are heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. God "spared not His own Son," but that did not lesson His resources. Human resources grow less and less in proportion as the outgoings from them are more and more. But it is far otherwise with the resources of the Christian whose whole fortune is invested in the love of God. He gave Himself, and yet hath all to give. The glorious sun, how little it feels the mighty drain on its resources! What oceans of glowing, light it hath poured forth since the day when God said, "Let light be"! What a vast and wide succession of autumn fields he has nursed and ripened into rich and golden corn; what mountains of ice he has thawed; what untold snows he has melted into beneficent and fertile streams; what generations of luscious fruits and blooming flowers he hath matured and painted in fair colours; what magical changes he hath wrought in the blue heavens above and on the green earth beneath since the day when God first hung His brilliant lamp among the stars and charged His mighty reservoir with glorious power! And yet His glowing furnace has never cooled, neither is His natural strength abated; and to-day it shines abroad in pristine glory, true symbol of the exhaustless bounty of its God. So is it with the Sun of Righteousness. He who spared not Himself, but delivered Himself up to pour out His whole Divine soul to kindle life and light, to conquer death and darkness and open heaven to the human race, how shall He not, how can He help, impelled for ever by the same love, lifting up: my soul, lightening my burden, succouring my spirit, soothing my sorrows, cheering my heart, and drying my tears? He must and will. "His love is as great as His power, and neither knows measure nor end. (J. Jackson Wray.) Parallel Verses KJV: He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? |
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