July 1

But he would put strength in me. - Job 23:6.

WE are altogether nothing without him, and “without him we can do nothing.” He will therefore put strength in us for the performance of duty, and our work is enough to discourage us, for it looks fitter for an angel than for a feeble man, unless we look to him whose strength can be made perfect in our weakness. He will put strength in us to enable us to suffer, and we shall never in “patience possess our souls,” we shall never endure so as to “glorify God in the fires,” so as to do honour to our religion, and recommend the gospel to all around us by its influence, but as he stands by us. As was the case with Paul, he mentions a sad story to Timothy. When he had appealed to Cæsar, and had to appear before that arch-tyrant Nero, he says, “At my first answer no man stood with me. I pray God it may not be laid to their charge. But neverertheless,” says he, “the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me.”

Whoever withdraws from us, therefore, he will be with us; and a very present help, an all-sufficient help, in the time of trouble. Paul therefore says, “There has no temptation befallen you but such as is common to men; but God is righteous, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able, and will with every temptation make away also for you to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” without removing our affliction God can afford us an increasing supply of his Holy Spirit to render us adequate to our duty. He will “put strength in us” to make us equal to our enemies. Numerous and mighty and subtle as they are, yet “greater is he that is with us, than all they that are in the world;” “If God be with us who can be against us.”

He will put strength in us to enable us to pursue our Christian course, or we should immediately drawback, unto perdition. But “the righteous,” says he, “shall hold on their way, and wax stronger and stronger.” We need not be afraid, therefore, when we feel our weakness, for when we are weak then are we strong; and we shall be able to say, “In the Lord have I righteousness and strength.” We have both in him; yea, we have everything in him. Unless Christ be all in all to us, he will be nothing at all to us.

As our justification depends upon the Saviour’s righteousness, so our sanctification depends upon the Saviour’s support. And as we will not dare when we appear before God to make mention of our righteousness, so neither will we go forth in our own strength now, but will say with the Psalmist, “I will go in the strength of the Lord God. I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.”