God’s Eye Is Upon His People
By H. E. Sawyer-Hopkins
THE assurance that the eye of the Lord is ever upon his people should cheer the heart of the pilgrim traveling to the heavenly Canaan. He can look up and rejoice that he who holds his children as in the hollow of his hand, neither slumbers nor sleeps; and that he remembers his promise to keep every son and daughter “as the apple of the eye,” and to hide them “under the shadow of his wing.” O the boundless love, the tender care, the long-suffering and patient forbearance the Father of mercies manifests toward those who have enlisted under the blood-stained banner of Prince Immanuel! And is not the love of him who takes notice of even the little sparrow’s fall, a beautiful, a grand theme upon which to dwell? Through the sweet singer of Israel, the Lord has said, “I will guide thee with mine eye.” Peter says, “The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous” (1 Peter 3:12), and Job says, “He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous.” Job 36:7. Then why cherish anxious thoughts or fears when perplexities and annoyances arise? Could we but see the Lord’s purpose in permitting these difficulties, and how through them he shows his love and manifests his divine power more fully to draw our minds from self and earth’s vain and transient allurements, thereby bringing us into closer connection with him, perhaps this shrinking and complaining so often indulged in because of the roughness of the way, might be easily overcome; for he has given his word to be a help in every time of need. The furnace will be heated no hotter than is necessary to consume the dross. To be thoroughly transformed every taint of sin must be eradicated from the heart. There should be a willingness to surrender all unreservedly to him who gave up all for our benefit. Let us cheerfully submit to the purifying process, though often it may be a painful one. Our Heavenly Father knows best what is necessary for the spiritual advancement and eternal welfare of his chosen ones. “All things work together for good to them that love God.” “They Shall Be All Taught of God”
What treasures of knowledge are revealed to God’s children! It has been “precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little,” as the days went by. None need go astray; for has he not said, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you”? Blessed assurance that wisdom, good judgment, and an abundance of light await the demand of every one who earnestly and perseveringly seeks them. “The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.” Jeremiah, in mentioning the Lord’s mercies, says, “They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” Lam. 3:23. Why not take all that our bountiful Giver holds out to us? Why not be loyal and true to him “as the needle to the pole,” and render implicit obedience to every one of his requirements? Let the heart be filled with love, and all our service be actuated by love; then, like David, we shall delight to do his will. Is he not worthy of our best endeavors and deepest devotions? “O worship the Lord in the beauty of
holiness.
Bow down before him, his glory
proclaim;
With gold of obedience, and incense
of lowliness,
Kneel and adore him, the Lord is his
name.”