Apr 98 PM7 - The Christian Shepherd

ContentsChristianShepherd•Vol.2•No.4•April1998That Legal Brother 87EditorialEphesians 90Understanding the will ofthe LordEducating our children 98Home SchoolingThe Eternal Sonship 102A precious, vital truth“Feed my lambs” 106It mattered to himAlso in This IssueBible Challenger 94Present Truth 95Joy of the Father 96Grace, Godliness, Glory 96Waiting to See Him 97Answers to Mar BC 105Book Review 108Serving the Lord 111Learning the Lord 112Patrick on Proverbs 11386C h r i s t i a n S h e p h e r d

Editorial“That Legal Brother”“Judge not that ye be not judged; For with whatjudgement ye judge, ye shall be judged and withwhat measure ye mete, it shall be measured to youagain.” (Matt 7:1)“Who art thou that judgest another man’sservant? To his own master he standeth or falleth...“ (Rom 14:4)Ionce heard a brother characterized as “themost legal brother I know!” But rather thanlegal, this very brother has impressed me as having atender conscience before the Lord and a desire tosubmit to the Word of God. The Lord alone knowsthe true motives of each heart, but we ought to bevery hesitant about making such characterizations .Terms such as “legal”, or “hard” are often heardbeing used to describe believers or their spiritualexercises. Though there may be times when thisportrayal might prove to be fairly accurate, a subtledanger exists in allowing ourselves the liberty tocharacterize another believer in this way.What might be judged as “legality” in a Christian,may in reality be the honest desire of that believer’sheart to walk “worthy of the vocation wherewith yeare called”. Thus the danger is that there may be aforgetfulness of the most fundamental prinicpledirecting the conduct of a believer’s life. We find inA p r i l 1 9 9 8 87

2Co 5:9 (JND Translation) an eloquently simple andDivine motive by which each believer ought to beguided: “Wherefore also we are zealous, whetherpresent or absent, to be agreeable to him.”Seeking to please the blessed Lord Jesus is aheart matter, not a head matter. What is done as aresult of love for the Lord Jesus may not always seemto be intelligent — but the “Lord looketh on theheart”. Surely the Lord will be more pleased withignorant love than with intelligent condemnation.We may well ask our hearts if it was a spirit oflegality which caused Abram to reject what seemedto be a kind, generous offer of spoils (which bycustom of the day were his right to claim) made tohim by the King of Sodom, after Abram’s victory.Was Joseph, who was later sent to seek thewelfare of his brethren and to see how they did,displaying a legal, unloving spirit when he broughtan “evil report” of them to their father?Was Moses displaying hard hearted legalismwhen he pitched the tabernacle outside the camp ofthe golden calf worshipping Children of Israel?Should we characterize Nehemiah’s conduct aslegal or faithful, when he “chased” the son ofEliashib the high priest, from his presence becauseof the young man’s marriage (Neh 13:28)?Do we judge that Daniel was after all, quite legaland unthankful for refusing to eat the royal bountythat the King of Babylon offered to him?Examples could be multiplied but we have a88C h r i s t i a n S h e p h e r d

Divine and perfect example of this seen in ourblessed Lord Jesus when He came into His Father’shouse—the temple at Jerusalem (John 2).No true beliver could possibly attach the termlegality to the actions of that Perfect Man who,overturning the money changers’ tables, driving outthe animals marked for sacrifice, and rebuking thosewho had made His Father’s house one of “merchandise”,was movtivated in His actions by perfect andholy zeal for the honor of His God and Father.May we tread ever so softly and carefully in anyjudgements we make of other believers—soulsredeemed by the precious blood of the Lord JesusChrist.We indeed ought to enjoy that “libertywherewith Christ hath made us free”, only let us notuse that “liberty for an occasion to the flesh” (Ga5:13), allowing it to make harsh judgements andcharacterizations of our brethren and their ways.“... walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us,and hath given himself for us...” (Eph 5:2)“Be of the same mind one toward another.”(Ro 12:16 ) Ed.Though holy men of God have left us examplesof faith for us to follow (see Phil. 3:17), our blessedLord Jesus Christ Himself shines above all as our onePerfect Example.adapted from N. BerryA p r i l 1 9 9 8 89

Brief Notes on EphesiansChapter 4:17- Chapter 5The doctrine of this Epistle closes withchapter 4:16. From that point to chapter 6:9,we get pracitcal instructions. From 6:9 to the end,we get conflict.Now in Eph 5 and 6, we get not only the church,but saints individually. We do not lose our personality.And so it is with gifts—”He gave some, apostles; andsome, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some,pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints.”The first business of gits was with each individually.So with pracitcal details we are also addressedindividually. We are told to put away lying, as beingmembers one of another. “Be ye angry, and sin not.”Anger may be as holy a feeling as any other, but donot let it degenerate into nature. “Resist the devil,”and “let him that stole, steal no more: but rather lethim labour . . that he may have to give to him thatneedeth.” This is very beautiful. Ceasing from stealing,he is to become a workman for others. “let nocorrupt communication proceed out of your mouth.. . and grieve no tthe holy Spirit of God.” Our worksare looked at and our words, and now our tempers.Then, “Forgiving one another, even as God forChrist’s sake hath forgiven you.” I am to measuremyself by God.90C h r i s t i a n S h e p h e r d

Chapter 5“Be ye therefore followers of God as dearchildren; and walk in love, as Christ also hath lovedus.” Supposing I was a good neighbor just to keepmy conscience a little easy, would that be meetingthe demands of this passage? “Walk in love, as Christalso hath loved us”; that makes kindness, Christiankindness. I take the Lord Jesus as my great prototype.I am to walk in love, because Christ has lovedme, and given Himself for me.Uncleaness does not become saints. But am Ito lay it aside because it is uncleaness? No; butbecause it does not become saints.You know that your renewed conscience wouldnever be satisfies by merely doing what is right. Youmust have the spirngs of action purified. Uncleanessdoes not beome saints.But am I to lay it asidebecasue it is uncleaness? No; but because it does notbecome saints.The fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, as in thebenevolent virtues—righteousness, as in integrityand honest, and all connected with truth. We findthese two in the world, but not connected withtruth. These things are given to make us practicallyChrist. As an old writer says, “Christ Himself is theground of all laws to a Christian”. He would have ussober, truthful, honest.Now are ye light; and what quality of light? LightA p r i l 1 9 9 8 91

“in the Lord”. “Have no fellowship with the unfruitfulworks of darkness, but rather reprove them”. Butare you merely an emptied, stripped thing? No; youhave put on the new man. As the old man wouldhave made plunder out of what belonged to another,so now you are to work for him whom before youwould have plundered.“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools,but as wise, redeeming the time.” I am to have anunderstanding, not of the philosophy of schools, butof the will of the Lord. The Spirit keeps you incompany with Christ He puts Christ upon you. Sothe old man might get drunk with wine. The newman has the Spirit to fill himself with. If that is to bemortified, this is to be cultivated.I am to have an understanding, not of the philosophy ofschools, but of the will of the Lord. The Spirit keepsyou in company with Christ. He puts Christ upon you.This filling of the Spirit expresses itself “In psalmsand hymns and spiritual songs.” This is a vessel filledwith the Spirit. Once filled with wine, it is nowbublling up in melody to the Lord.Now he addresses husbands and wives. There, Ineed not say, how deeply we are in company withChrist. Now Christ is called ‘head’ in three aspects: inchapter 1 He is Head over all things to the church.In chapter 4 it is as being Head of influence,dispensing virtue to memebers. Here in chapter 592C h r i s t i a n S h e p h e r d

Bible ChallengerThe first letter of each of the following responseswill form the word that united an apostle with thosehe comforted by a certain mutuality. The number inbrackets [ ] indicates the number of words in eachanswer.1. How are some who shall be comforted in acoming day identified in this our present day. [3]2. The way things which are not usually thoughtto break forth into singing are addressed at a timewhen the truththat the Lord hath comforted Hispeople is universally known. [2]3. The place of descent a mourning father, whorefused to be comforted, anticipated as he wept forhis son. [1]4. One of the gifts that several brothers andsisters brought to a man as they comforted him atthe conclusion of a very sore trial that had left himchildless and destitiute. [3]5. How a man of considerable means, in this life,was being treated, in “after life”, while at the sametime, in full view, an acquaintance of his was beingcomforted. [1]6. Those for whom a whole nation of motherswere weeping and would not be comforted, asforseen in an Old Testament prophecy. [2]7. Besides being comforted and charged, how elsehad a caring apostle demonstrated the father–94C h r i s t i a n S h e p h e r d

children relationship to some early believers. [1]8. The wife of an early Patriarch whose husbandwas comforted after his mother’s death. [1]Present TruthThe Coming of the Lord JesusThe coming of the Lord Jesus is the Christian’sproper hope. This we see in 1 Thess 1:9, 10. We waitfor God’s Son from Heaven.1 Thess 4:13-18 unfolds for the first time themanner in which it will take place. 1 Cor 15:51-57unfolds the blessed revelation of an incorruptilbeand and immortal body received in that day. Phil3:21 unfolds the truth that we shall have bodies ofglory like Christ.Every Old Testament scripture without anyexception whatsoever, mentioning the futurecoming of the Lord, refers to the setting up of thekingdom on earth. When His coming in that characteris spoken about, we com with Him, havingpreviously been caught up to meet Him in the air.(Zech 14:5; Jude 14; Rev. 17:14).“The Spirit and the Bride say, Come.” May ourhearts respond and say: “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”(Rev. 22:20)H. E. HayhoeA p r i l 1 9 9 8 95

The Joy of the FatherGod does not say, “let him eat and be merry.” Thiswould never do. God has His own joy in redemption.This sweet lesson is beautifully taught in Luke 15.The shelpherd was glad to find his sheep. Thewoman was glad to find her piece of silver. TheFather was glad to embrace his son. God is glad toget back the lost one. The tide of joy that rollsthrough the hosets above, when a sinner returns,finds its exhaustless source in the bosom of God.Who could listen to the words: “let us eat and bemerry” issuing from the Father’s heart, and continueto doubt His love?Adapted from Things New and Old”, Vol. 2Grace, Godliness and Glory“For the grace of God that bringeth salvationhath appeared to all men, Teaching us that,denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we shouldlive soberly, righteously, and godly, in this presentworld; Looking for that blessed hope, and theglorious appearing of the great God and ourSaviour Jesus Christ; “(Titus 2:11-13)Grace brings salvation to lost man. Grace givespower for a Godly walk in separation from evil tosaved man. Grace gives the hope of seeing theSaviour in glory to believing man.adapted from “Things New and Old”, Vol. 296C h r i s t i a n S h e p h e r d

Waiting to See HimI believe that if I am near the Lord Jesus Christ, Ishall find in His heart a special affection about apeople down here who are waiting for Him—notwaiting for glory, but for Him, which is quite adifferent thing.Do I love Him? Do I not know He was mySubstitute? Do I not want to see Him? Has He nottaken from my mind everything that harassed andperplexed me? Do I know that for [morethan]eighteen hundred years He has been sitting atthe right hand of God, with everything His own, butwith a craving in His heart that will never besatisfied till He has got us—till He has got me—home with Himself?Knowing this in nearness to Himself, can I besatisfied till I see Him face to face in the glory of alldivine uncreated light?I do not so much think of the glory we shallenter into, but what my heart recognizes is thesweet truth that it is the Lord and myself that are tobe in companionship together. Our going and Hiscoming, though different things, are both connectedwith the deep consciousness formed in the heartthat we are to be in Christ’s own individual presenceand—not till then, not till there—satisfied.GVWA p r i l 1 9 9 8 97

the responsibility of educating their children—andin a way which is pleasing to the Lord.We read in Pro. 18:9; “He also that is slothful inhis work is brother to him that is a great waster.”What a sad waste of children’s abilities and talentshome schooling becomes, if parents are slothful inthe part they must play in this undertaking. Withoutintensive parental involvement and oversight, homeschooled children, left without direction, guidanceor structure for their studies, run the danger ofbecoming slothful and unsettled in their habits oflife. “Train up a child in the way he should go: andwhen he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Pr 22:6)Rom. 12:11 teaches that believers are not to be“slothful in business;”, but “fervent in spirit; servingthe Lord”. Is not the “business” of our childrens’education a most important one!Finally, parents who home school their childrenare truly “serving the Lord”, as much as missionariespreaching the gospel in foreign lands. May theyfaithfully fulfill this critical service!Home Schooling Needs Careful PlanningSuccess in any area of our lives never results fromcareless planning. “...the prudent [man] looketh wellto his going.” (Pro 14:15) “For which of you, intendingto build a tower, sitteth not down first, andcounteth the cost, whether he have sufficient tofinish it?” (Lu 14:28) “Let all things be done decentlyand in order” (1 Cor 14:40)100C h r i s t i a n S h e p h e r d

May beloved parents seek grace from the Lord tobe very diligent in planning a learning experienceand educational curriculum which will be of realvalue for their children.Home Schooling Ought to be Orderly“God is not the author of confusion.” (1 Cor14:33) How important that children who areschooled at home, receive their education in anorderly manner and in an orderly environment! Inthe 30+ years that I have been involved in variouslevels of public education, I have found that thesingle greatest failing of this vast system has beenthe loss of firm, fair discipline and allowance of aspirit of irresponsibility and disorder.In both Mark 6 and Luke 9, where we haveaccounts of the Lord feeding the multitude, Hecommands the people to be set down on the grassin an orderly arrangement, before they were fed.As to the actual methods of instruction, there is abeautiful principle found in Isa 28:10: “For preceptmust be upon precept, precept upon precept; lineupon line, line upon line; here a little, and there alittle:” May God grant parents who decide tohomeschool their children, purpose of heart toundertake this task faithfully as before the Lord.Those who may be interested in home schoolingcurriculums or other information, are welcome tocontact the editor by E-Mail or US mail to receive alist of home schooling resources. Ed.A p r i l 1 9 9 8 101

The Eternal Sonship of ourLord Jesus ChristThe doctrine of the Eternal Sonsip of our LordJesus Christ is vital. To hold or teach error concerningthis Divine truth is to hold or teach seriouserror. We beseech our readers to carefully considerthe following letter written by our late brotherWalter Potter. It is simple and clear in its presentationof the fundamental truth of the personal gloryof our blessed Lord Jesus Christ.Mr. Darby once wrote: “I hold it vital to hold thesonship before the worlds. It is the truth. “We would also recommend a careful reading of“The Son of God” by J. G. Bellet, as also being mosthelpful in presenting the glorious truth of HisEternal Sonship and Godhead glory. Ed.“Dear brother,If the eternal Sonship of the Lord Jesus be deniedand He only was Son in time, then God had noeternal Son to give—to send into the world—as themeasure and expression of His love to us.To deny Eternal Sonship is to say the He was notin relationship as Son until He born in this world. Itis not His diety which is in question, but His relationshipin it—namely, His being everlastingly the“only begotten Son which is in the bosom of theFather”. As Eternal Son, He was the supreme Object102C h r i s t i a n S h e p h e r d

of the Father’s love. According to this doctrine, Hehad no “only begotten Son” to give and send into thisworld if He was not Son until born of a woman.We read of beholding His glory, as that of an onlybegotten of the Father, and of His being the onlybegotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father,declaring Him (the Father) and that God so lovedthe world that He gave His only begotten Son. Is thisthe Son in time and manhood only?The love of God toward us, and the measure of it isseen in His sending His only begotten Son to us andfor us. It was this only begotten One he gave. This, maywe not say, is the Glory of the gospel of His grace.I am aware that some have a difficulty as to theword “begotten” in connection with the EternalSonship of the Lord. There is, of course no thought ofbeginning, as used of the Lord, as the Only Begotten. Itis the expression of what He is to the Father’s heart, asthe Son of His love. His only begotten Son in thebosom of the Father. I think this is more clearly seenwhen translated “an only begotten”.It is said of Abraham that he offered up his “onlybegotten son”. Yet Ishmael was as much begotten ofhim as was Isaac, but Isaac was the son of his love. It isalso said: “thine only son, Isaac, who thou lovest.” This iswhy the Lord Jesus is spoken of, and speaks of Himself as“the only begotten Son, in the bosom of the Father.”It is what He is, and ever was, as the object ofGod’ love. In Luke 20:13, we read, “I will send Mybeloved Son.” How could He do this if He had noA p r i l 1 9 9 8 103

eloved Son to send? Again and again we read ofGod sending His Son.” How could He do this, if Hehad no beloved Son, we ask again?“I came not of myself, but He sent Me.” Is thislimited to His Incarnation and Sonship in time andmanhood? Is the Son in John 5 limited in the way,and to this? Is God sending His Son, and sparing notHis own Son (Rom 8), His Sonship in time only?It is not a question of His being Son in time: weknow He certainly is this. “Thou art my Son, this dayhave I begotten thee.” This refers to time—His beingborn of a woman. “That holy thing which shall beborn of thee, shall be called the Son of God,” tells usthis. We read of the “book of the generation of JesusChrist.” As the only begotten Son in the bosom of theFather, there could be no generation. This place ofthe “Only Begotten” is His relative place in theeternal Godhead—Father, Son and Holy Ghost.This I take to be the relative places of the Deity,and there He has this place of eternal and belovedSon. Give Him not this place, and we have lost Himas the eternal Son of God; and in our thoughts andfaith, have taken from the Father, and as such, theobject of that bosom we have lost.And from the Son we have taken the joy of beingthat object, and He is such no longer to our souls. Weno longer think of an adore Him as ever the Son inthe bosom of the Father.“I came forth from the Father, and am come intothe world; again I leave the world and go to the104C h r i s t i a n S h e p h e r d

Father.” Is this Sonship in time only? Father glorifythy Son, that Thy Son may also glorify thee.” Is thistoo only Sonship in time?In the gospel of John, is it not His Sonship in Deityand manhood? In Colossians, is it not as the Son of theFather’s love, by whom and for who all things werecreated? So also Hebrews 1. But I add no more now.May we have grace “to contend earnestly for thefaith once delivered to the saints.” W. PotterAnswers to Mar 98 BibleChallengerBeards 2 Samuel 10:5Rightly dividing 2 Timothy 2:15Every one that believeth Romans 1:16Three days 2 Kings 2:17Hope Romans 5:5Reproached me Job 19:3Earnest expectation Phil 1:20No evil thing to say Titus 2:8“For both he that sanctifieth and they who aresanctified are all of one: for which cause he is notashamed to call them brethren.” (Hebrews 2:11)R. ErismanA p r i l 1 9 9 8 105

Feed My LambsIt Mattered to him!A man vacationing on a beautiful island in thePacific Ocean, was walking one morning on a lovely,quiet, white sand beach. As he strolled, enjoying thebeauty of the seashore, he noticed in the distance,another man—a native of that island— moving veryslowly towards him, acting in a very odd manner.As the native islander walked, he would oftenstop, stoop over and pick something up from thesand. Then he carefully tossed it back into the ocean.This continued for quite some time until eventually,the two men finally met each other.The vacationer asked the native what he was socarefully and painstakingly picking up and throwinginto the sea. He replied that the tide had washed avast number of star fish onto the sandy beach andwhen it retreated, had left them stranded there. “Ifthey are left on the sand” he said, “they will diebefore the tide comes back in.”“Surely,” countered the surprised vacationer,“there must be untold thousands of the starfish allalong this beach, as well as the other beaches on thisisland. You can’t possibly pick them all up and throwthem back!” But the native quietly repeated; “if theyare left on the sand, they will die”.“But,” said the perplexed vacationer, “in spite ofyour efforts, the great majority of them will die106C h r i s t i a n S h e p h e r d

anyway! Man! think how little effect on the multitudeof stranded starfish, your efforts and hard workare having! How can what you’re doing matter?”Without answering the question, the islanderonce again bent over and picked up another starfishfrom the sandy beach. He carefully tossed it backinto the ocean and then, turning to the puzzledvacationer, he said: “Well, it mattered to him!”Perhaps you have tried to tell someone about theLord Jesus, or maybe left a gospel tract at a restaurant,or helped a neighbor with their yard work —allbecause you wanted to please the Lord Jesus. Butthen you may have felt that what you tried to dowasn’t very important, and like the vacationer in ourstory perhaps you wondered; “does it really matter? ”The answer is “Yes!” Anything done in love for theLord Jesus matters—whether big or little.Just imagine how much it mattered to the mightywarrior Naaman (2 Kings 5), that his wife’s littleservant girl told someone about a man (Elisha) whoserved the true God—Jehovah—and could cure himof his terrible disease of leprosy!We are told in Galatians 6:10 to “do good to all”and especially to other believers. Though “doinggood” may be as simple as giving someone a drink ofcold water (Mk. 10:42), the Lord values such efforts.Let’s not get discouraged or give up seeking toplease the Lord. It matters to Him and it matters tothose we seek to serve! “But ye, brethren, be notweary in well doing.” (2 Th 3:13)Ed.A p r i l 1 9 9 8 107

Book ReviewThe Best of Books“Understandest thou what thou readest?” Acts8:21) “Communicating spiritual things by spiritualmeans.” (1Cor. 1:13 JND)Although faith is required for a proper understandingof God’s word, His mind has been revealedplainly enough that man is still responsible to heedit. The excuse that the Bible “is too hard to understand”is not justifiable. Mark Twain the famous,unbelieving author, said: “Most people are botheredby those passages in Scripture which they cannotunderstand—as for me, I notice that the passages inScripture which trouble me most are those which Ido understand.”Still, the many recent translations of the Bibletestify to man’s continual efforts to make the Wordof God more understandable. Among these aretranslations so well known and so significant, thatwe should be aware of them.The King James Version (KJV, AuthorizedVersion, AV) is most well known. After almost fourcenturies of use, it is still the most published andwidely used translation in the world. It has beensingularly and remarkably used by the Spirit of Godto convey His truth; and for that reason alone itshould not be despised. Virtually all of the best Bibleexpositions, commentaries, and study helps in the108C h r i s t i a n S h e p h e r d

English language are based on it, and quotes from itpermeate even secular literature as well.Children who learn to read it at home, find that itprovides advantages for learning in school. To manybelievers, it conveys a sense of authority which mostmodern translations seem to lack. Its most devotedpublisher, the Trinitarian Bible Society, has included aglossary—a list of words whose meanings havechanged—in most of their KJV editions. We wouldencourage our readers to check their understandingterms with such a list. We believe that the KJV—stillthe most universally accepted and used translation—is the best for general public use.The JND Translation. We heartily recommendthe use of this translation of the Scriptures (JND) toany who wish to make a serious study of the Word ofGod. In his preface, Mr. Darby said: “ ...the purpose[of the translation] is to provide the simple readerwith as exact a translation as possible.” Interest in ithas been recently increasing, as more believers,disappointed with frivolous modern translations,discover and read it.The New International Version (NIV) hasbecome very popular. A great deal of literary talentand Christian scholarship was invested it its production.However, the principle of “dynamic equivalence”upon which the translation is based hasintroduced serious problems for Christians. OneA p r i l 1 9 9 8 109

Biblical commentator has well said that “in too manyinstances”, the NIV tries to get across the meaning ofthe author rather than giving a direct translation of theInspired writings. (1) When this is done, the reader isdependent upon the meaning provided by thetranslator (which may or may not be accurate). We donot recommend this translation as a principle sourceof Scripture reference, for we cannot trust its accuracy.The New American Standard Version Bible(NAS, NASB, NASV) is popular with many seriousChristians. It has, however, been characterized as “agood translation of a bad text”. We regard it, at bestas a secondary reference source.The New King James Version (NKJ, NKJV) isthe best of recent translations. Its clear and simplelanguage, patterned after the KJV, commends it tomany. Its weaknesses (in particular, the distinctionbetween the singular and plural—such as “thee” and“ye”—is lost by the NKJV’s use of “you”) distressothers. Some have found it useful in ministering tonew or less literate believers, and to children.Of course, no translation will profit a soul unless itis read. May we earnestly seek that our lives express aliving example of the Word of God. The world ought toto see its Divine truth lived out in believers’ lives.“Ye are our epistle . . . known and read of allmen . . . the epistle of Christ ministered by us . . .with the Spirit of the living God “ ( 2 Cor 3:2,3)110C h r i s t i a n S h e p h e r d

(1) “Reasons Skeptics Should Consider Christianity”:Josh McDowell and Don Stewart, TyndaleHouse , Wheaton IL p. 73.J. A. KaiserServing the LordAs to our service we have seen our precious Lordand Master, in profound self-abasement, wash thefeet of His disciples, making Himself an example—for whom? For us, surely. Now I know, at the presenttime, of no service which is worthy of Him, oragreeable to Him, if it is not done in humiliation.This is no the time to speak of a place for ourselves.If the church of God, so dear to Christ, is dishonoredin this world; it if is scattered, ignorant, afflicted, hewho has the mind of Christ will always take thelowest place, True service of love will seek to giveaccording to the need , and because of their need, hewill never think of slighting the objects of theMaster’s love because of their necessity. Men taughtof God, for His service, go forth from a place ofstrength, where they have learnt their own weaknessand their own nothingness. They find that Jesusis everything in the presence of God, and Jesus iseverything for them in all things, and everywhere.Such men, in the hands of the Holy Spirit, are realhelps for the children of God, and they will notcontend for a place, or a distinction, or for authority,amongst the scattered flock. The communion of aA p r i l 1 9 9 8 111

man with God about the church will shew itself in awillingness to be nothing in himself, and such a onewill rejoice in his heart to spend and to be spent.JNDLearning the LordYou may learn “about” the Lord from manysources, including other believers. But to really“know” Him depends entirely on your individualwalk with the Lord Jesus. How little we really “know”the Lord in our daily lives! Oh! to simply “know” Himas One to walk with, and that, for His own company.While it is true that we each have needs that Healone can meet, “knowing” Him in this way goesbeyond simply having One that is “serving” us.Knowing Him in this way is more the thought ofcontentedness of companionship with Himself.It is similar with our children. A child “knows” hisfather from its earliest days, but it grows in understanding.It is especially so with a son as he shareshis father’s pathway, walking in the same steps hisfather walks in. I have noticed too, that with sonsthere is a deepening appreciation of their fatherafter their marriage and family life has begun.In a similar way it is so with our walk with theLord. He was, yea is a Man now and for eternity. If we“follow in His steps” we walk with Him, coming toknow the same feelings He experienced, learning tounderstand more of Him. H. Short112C h r i s t i a n S h e p h e r d

Simon Patrick on ProverbsA p r i l 1 9 9 8 113