“The Sower Went Forth to Sow”
31
Remembering the tender mercies of the Lord, we should cast our care
upon Him, and with patience wait for His salvation.
Through conflict the spiritual life is strengthened. Trials well borne
will develop steadfastness of character and precious spiritual graces.
The perfect fruit of faith, meekness, and love often matures best amid
storm clouds and darkness.
“The husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and
hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.”
James 5:7
. So the Christian is to wait with patience for the fruition in
his life of the word of God. Often when we pray for the graces of the
Spirit, God works to answer our prayers by placing us in circumstances
to develop these fruits; but we do not understand His purpose, and
wonder, and are dismayed. Yet none can develop these graces except
through the process of growth and fruit bearing. Our part is to receive
God’s word and to hold it fast, yielding ourselves fully to its control,
and its purpose in us will be accomplished.
“If a man love Me,” Christ said, “he will keep My words; and My
Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode
with him.”
John 14:23
. The spell of a stronger, a perfect mind will be
over us; for we have a living connection with the source of all-enduring
strength. In our divine life we shall be brought into captivity to Jesus
Christ. We shall no longer live the common life of selfishness, but
Christ will live in us. His character will be reproduced in our nature.
Thus shall we bring forth the fruits of the Holy Spirit—“some thirty,
and some sixty, and some an hundred.”
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