Evening Thoughts — February 29

Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. James 3:13

THE knowledge and the grace that God has given You, though for yourself primarily, are not for yourself exclusively. God, in making you a possessor of Divine grace, designed that, through the consistency of your walk, the holiness of your life, and the personal activity of your grace in the cause of God and of truth, it might be dispersed abroad for the benefit of others.

To the true believer it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom, while from others they are hidden. Where may we look for an understanding of the revealed mind of God but to him? Who knows the secret of the Lord, and to whom does he show His covenant, but to those who fear Him? Having an "unction from the Holy One," he knows all things. He knows something of that mystery, which no philosophy of man can teach him—the plague of his own heart. He knows something, too, of the value of Christ—His person, His work, His glory, His fullness, His tenderness, His sympathy, His preciousness. He knows something of the character and dealings of God—as a holy God, as a just God, and yet who blots out sin, and remembers it no more forever. He knows in some measure what the intricacies of the intricate way are; what the narrowness of the narrow path is; what are the difficulties of walking with God; what are the conflicts, the trials, the tribulations of the Christian life. The Spirit of holiness inhabiting him, despite the corrupt sediment of his fallen nature, he contains and dispenses abroad that stream of holy influence which carries with it a blessing wherever it flows. Where do we look for true holiness save in the soul born again of the Spirit? A holy man is earth's greatest blessing—is the world's richest ornament and shield. How full of compassion is the real Christian! He it is who, taught the priceless value of his own eternal happiness, has affections of compassion for the souls of others involved in like ruin with himself. "Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears!" says Jeremiah. "Rivers of water run down mine eyes, because they keep not Your law!" exclaims David. The Lord Jesus, the great Mourner, who wept not for Himself, but for others, has His bottle for the tears of those whose sympathies, prayers, and exertions flow forth for the conversion of sinners, for the salvation of souls. Full of charity, too, is the true Christian. Where shall we look for the Divine cement, the true bond, which unites the heart of man to man, but in the one Church of God? Who is the true peace-maker, the diligent sower of peace, the zealous promoter of love, charity, and good-will among men, but he in whose heart the love of God finds a home? Who has such sincere pity for the poor—whose hand is more ready to relieve their necessities, than he who himself is a conscious partaker of the benevolence of God? Such, dear reader, are some of the characteristics of true Christians.