John R. Macduff

Eighth Day.

SUBMISSION TO GOD’S WORD.

“Jesus said unto him, It is written.”—Matt. iv. 7.

We can not fail to be struck, in the course of the Saviour’s public teaching, with His constant appeal to the word of God. While, at times, He utters, in His own name, the authoritative behest, “Verily, verily, I say unto you,” He as often thus introduces some mighty work, or gives intimation of some impending event in His own momentous life, “These things must come to pass, that the Scriptures be fulfilled, which saith.” He commands His people to “search the Scriptures;” but He sets the example by searching and submitting to them Himself. Whether he drives the money-changers from their sacrilegious traffic in the temple, or foils his great adversary on the mount of temptation, he does so with the same weapon, “It is written.” When He rises from the grave, the theme of His first discourse is one impressive tribute to the value and authority of the same sacred oracles. The disciples on the road to Emmaus listen to nothing but a Bible lesson. “He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.”

How momentous the instruction herein conveyed! The necessity of the absolute subjection of the mind to God’s written Word—making churches, creeds, ministers, books, religious opinion, all subordinate and subservient to this—“How readest thou?” rebuking the philosophy, falsely so called, that would distort the plain statements of Revelation, and bring them to the bar of proud Reason.

If an infallible Redeemer, “a law to Himself,” was submissive in all respects to the “written law,” shall fallible man refuse to sit with the teachableness of a little child, and listen to the Divine message? There may be, there is, in the Bible, what reason staggers at: “we have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep.” But, “Thus saith the Lord,” is enough. Faith does not first ask what the bread is made of, but eats it. It does not analyse the components of the living stream, but with joy draws the water from “the wells of salvation.”

Reader! take that Word as “the lamp to thy feet, and the light to thy path.” In days when false lights are hung out, there is the more need of keeping the eye steadily fixed on the unerring beacon. Make the Bible the arbiter in all difficulties—the ultimate court of appeal. Like Mary, “sit at the feet of Jesus,” willing only to learn of Him. How many perplexities it would save you! how many fatal steps in life it would prevent—how many tears! “It is a great matter,” says the noblest of modern Christian philosophers, “when the mind dwells on any passage of Scripture, just to think how true it is.” (Chalmers’ Life).

In every dubious question, when the foot is trembling on debatable ground, knowing not whether to advance or recede, make this the final criterion, “What saith the Scripture?” The world may remonstrate—erring friends may disapprove—Satan may tempt—ingenious arguments may explain away; but, with our finger on the revealed page, let the words of our Great Example be ever a Divine formula for our guidance:—“This commandment have I received of my Father!”

“ARM YOURSELVES LIKEWISE WITH THE SAME MIND.”