March 28

That he might present it to himself. - Ephesians 5:27.

IN the Scriptures we find a threefold presentation of believers spoken of. The first of these presentations is what we call personal, and this is made by themselves. Of this the apostle speaks when he admonishes the Romans, saying, “I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

In the experience of every believer there is a solemn sense in which he has acknowledged God’s claims: he has asked, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” and has said, with resolution and zeal, “Lord, I am thine; save me.” “Other Lords besides thee have had dominion over me, but henceforth by thee only will I make mention of thy name.” To thee I dedicate myself. My understanding is thine to know thee; my will to choose thee; my heart to love thee; my conscience to fear thee; my memory to retain thee. Thine are mine eyes to behold thy glory; mine ears to hear thy voice; my tongue to show forth thy praise; and my feet to walk in thy ways. Thine is my time, and my substance, and my influence; and if I had the innocence of Adam in Paradise, the meekness of Moses, the faith of Abraham, the patience of Job, the fervour of Paul, the perfection of angels, they should be equally, they should be more, thine, than these poor imperfect offerings which I now present. I have only two mites to cast into the treasury, -a body and a soul: my all is too small, and my best is too bad, for thine acceptance; but, Lord, “receive me graciously and love me freely.” Can we say, in the words of Dr. Doddridge, which, says Montgomery, seem to be almost inspired,-

“Oh, happy day, that fix’d my choice

On thee, my Saviour and my God!

“Well may this glowing heart rejoice,

And tell its raptures all abroad.

“’Tis done; the great transaction’s done:

I am the Lord’s, and he is mine;

He drew me, and I follow’d on,

Charm’d to confess the voice divine.”

The second of these presentations is official; and these are made by ministers. This is what the apostle means when he says, “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” Ministers have a charge. It is to endeavour to bring souls to Christ. And when they have executed their commission they return to Him who employed them; and how painful is their case if then they can only present him with their complaints, and say, “Lord, who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?” “I have besought them in Christ’s stead to be reconciled to thee; but they have loved idols, and after them they will go.”

But oh, it is their joy and crown of rejoicing when they can prevail on sinners to hearken, and they can present them as converts, and at his table, saying, “Lord, here is another who has forsaken the foolish and now desires to walk in the ways of understanding. Lord, here is another who is hungering and thirsting after righteousness. Lord, here is another weary of the world, and seeking to know, and love, and serve, and enjoy thee forever.”

The third is divine. And this is here intended; and the presentation here unquestionably regards a future day,-that day for which all other days were made, and which is more than once so emphatically called “the day of Christ.” The presentation is a very peculiar one, for you see it is by and to the very same Being:- “that he might present it to himself.” It is by him he presents it, and it is to him. How is this? By him, for he shall present them. They are presented by him now in the capacity of Mediator, having received them as so many scholars to educate, so many sheep to feed, so many patients to heal, so many captives to ransom; and, having finished the work that was given him to do, he comes and presents them all, not one failing. But then it is also to him, “that he may present it to himself.” “They are presented to him, as he is God over all, blessed forever,” to whom they originally belonged, and to whom they are now restored as to their Lord to serve and their portion to enjoy.