p. 142 | The Gift of God by A. JOHNSON

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 2, 1866

The Gift of God.

By A. JOHNSON

In the Sacred Writings many great and precious promises may be found. Some of them are special, for particular times and places, while others have a general application. I shall notice briefly one of the latter class.

“Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thy heart.” Ps. xxxvii, 4.

1. To delight in the Lord is to do his will, and to love to meditate on the perfection of his character, and the truth, mercy, and justice of his ways. And this presupposes a willing heart; for although “man

looketh on the outward appearance, the Lord looketh on the heart.” We should show that we love the Lord by keeping our affections more on him than we do on any worldly object. Now if we “keep our hearts with all diligence,” we shall put in practice those two excellent precepts, “Pray without ceasing,” and, “In every thing give thanks.”

2. “He shall give thee.” It should be kept in mind that this is a free gift of God to fallen, sinful man, who loveth evil more than good, and of whom it is true, “that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart is only evil continually.” Gen. vi, 5. In regard to gifts, Christ asked the multitude, “If ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in Heaven give good things to them that ask him.” And when we read, that, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,” and that “the gift of God is eternal life,” we are prepared to believe that if we fully meet the requisition, to delight ourselves in the Lord, he will give us eternal life, for it is one of the greatest desires of our hearts.

3. When the Psalmist says, “the desires of thy heart,” he does not mean our light, uncertain, and unmeaning wishes, which are only retained for a moment, and then replaced by others no better. What he does mean is, those desires that are permanent, and dear to us, and have a place in our hearts. Yet many of our passing wishes will be gratified by our heavenly Father; for we know that he withholds no good thing from them that walk uprightly and in his fear.

4. God will give us what our hearts desire. This is the second part of this promise, and the consummation of the whole. Truly this is a blessed promise; for if a man can claim it, what can he desire and not have? Does he lack understanding, knowledge, strength, or faith? Has he friends whom he wishes brought out from the darkness of sin to the marvelous light of the gospel? Let him claim this declaration of David, the servant of God, in faith believing, and the Lord will make the mountains smoke, and shake the earth terribly, before the least of his words shall fail. To him be the honor and glory.

A. JOHNSON.

Addison, Mich.