Abide in Christ and Praise Him

The following was written by Stanley Smith, one of the Cambridge Seven, on his way to China on his first missionary trip.  It is taken from The Evangelisation of the World:  A Missionary Band:

"Well, I can testify that Jesus satisfies. 'Oh, how He loves.' Here is a good, simple problem — an equation : The Father's love to Christ = Christ's love to us. I believe it to be a good receipt for a cold heart. It is, I find, a most precious side of truth to dwell on, the Church's preciousness to Christ ; and of course our individual preciousness as members of that beloved Bride.

"'Let Me see thy face, let Me hear thy voice,' says the Christ in His Song of Songs ; and whereas the Church says, 'Thy love is better than wine,' the Lord says, 'How much better is thy love than wine ! '

"Do those children of God who walk at a distance from Him realise that they are not only making themselves losers, but Him — for their presence and nearness are precious to Him. Alas ! that we should be so blind to the character of our glorious God and Father and Saviour ! See, for instance, how constantly 'Thou God seest me' is quoted— utterly in a wrong sense. God only 'saw' Hagar to bless her, not to pick faults (Gen. xvi. 13).

"Now let me exhort you, beloved brother, and let me in fancy (for in fact I could not have your answer for nearly six months) hear you in the same way exhorting me, one word — ' Abide in Christ.' That is the Christian's compendium.

"Such a blessed thought to me, only comparatively lately brought home with power, is that the Father is the Husbandman. 'Of God are ye in Christ Jesus.'  And He will see to it that we are kept abiding. Indeed, 'apart from Him we can do nothing.' May the Lord teach me this lesson far more deeply. Oh my soul ! dost thou really assent to these propositions —

Apart from Christ thou art nothing,
Apart from Christ thou knowest nothing,
Apart from Christ thou canst do nothing,

 "except the will of God?  Although I believe the Lord would have us know what we are apart from Christ, I believe He would seldom have us dwell on it.  To be occupied with bad self is about as bad as to be occupied with good self

"The Lord has led us through strange experiences, and we have had very fierce assaults of the devil. But, blessed be God, He has brought us through, and we are rejoicing in Him.

"Oh, to have 'self' well nailed up on the tree; and when the world, flesh, and devil pass by wagging their heads and bidding it come down, that the Lord in His grace would keep it up there. And then, as our old man is crucified with Him, we abiding in Him can bring forth fruit unto God. I know most Christians assent with the head to the propositions before-named. And yet, practically, how many times we give our opinions, and do things without seeking His guidance. At least, when I say 'we,' I mean I fear I do.

"Well, my brother, the time is short. Oh, ' tell it out,' while you have breath, that the Lord is King ! I exhort you, do not forget to praise. What heaps of reasons there are for it. Let us cultivate a grateful spirit.

"'Let the people praise Thee, O God ; then shall the earth bring forth her increase, and all the ends of the world fear Him.' What shall we render to the Lord for all His benefits ? Shall we sacrifice this or that ? Shall we consecrate? Shall we give? The Lord does not say so, speaking by His Spirit through the Psalmist. He teaches him to say, 'I will lake the cup of salvation.' The way  to return thanks to our God for benefits is to 'take' more.  He delights to give, and His last action on the earth was to lift up His hands and bless."