June 20

Stretch forth thy hand.—Mark iii. 5.

Jesus, as he went into the synagogue, met with a man who had a withered hand: his misery attracted the overflowing compassion of the Saviour, and he at once contemplated the restoration of the useless and cumbrous limb: Jesus therefore said unto him, "Stretch forth thine hand." Now the command at first appears unreasonable; for if the hand were withered, the poor man had lost all power over it, and the volitions of his mind could not affect it. But the man did not reason thus: his ear caught the divine mandate, and his heart at once harmonized with it; he made the effort, and his hand was at once made whole even as the other. Therefore, we are instructed that whenever Christ commandeth, he also imparts the power necessary for obeying the command; hence, when he said "Stretch forth thine hand," the necessary ability was given; the blood began to circulate through its frozen channels, the muscles began to soften and relax, and the energy of life was experienced in the dead member; and thus the man put it forth, and it was perfectly restored. Now, in like manner, when God commands us to repent, he only requires the consent of our own hearts to this, and our repentance shall be free, and genuine, and acceptable in his sight. When he says to the sinner, Believe the record given of my Son, if the heart cordially and affectionately attempts the reception of the record, the full power to believe it shall be experienced, and the soul shall exclaim, "Lord, I do believe," and shall thus be saved. If the Lord call upon us to pray, to seek his face by fervent supplication — if but our inability be expressed before God — if we can only say, "Lord, teach us how to pray," yet the spirit of prayer and the grace of supplication shall be poured out upon us, and with fervour we shall be enabled to supplicate; and acceptance shall be the happy result. When God speaks to us, he never withholds the ability necessary either for doing or suffering his holy and blessed will.