Be Not Afraid, Only Believe
By Clarence Santee
A CONSTANT spirit under trial and “hope deferred” is one of the graces much needed, but too rarely seen. One of the many lessons in which our Saviour instructed His disciples in regard to this spirit, is found in Luke 11:5-8: “And He said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? and he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I can not rise and give thee. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.” This incident is said to be common to Oriental life, even to this day. In the lesson, three persons are prominent,—one who has all the loaves needed; one who is willing to impart, but has none to give; and one who, in the darkness, has come in his journey to this man’s house in need of bread. The Lord has “bread enough and to spare.” We have none. In the darkness, He sends the wayfarer, in need of bread, to our door. Shall we give to him? One of the characters in the parable, though he had no bread to give, had a willing heart. He desired to give. In coming to the one who had bread, he said the wayfarer was “a friend of mine.” Unless you can truly say to God that it is your “friend” for whom you request, be sure you will not receive. There is little if any blessing in laboring or praying for those whom you do not love. The sentiment may not be that of human attachment, but it must be that broader love which makes no distinction. “Love your enemies.” Jesus called Judas His “friend.” Matt. 26:50. And He prayed for him as such. It is as well to ask little for another until you can ask as a friend indeed. If God waits as you ask for the bread, it is because you are not ready to receive it. Keep asking. The earnest asking will prepare for better use of the gift when it is received. You may at times be tempted to say: It is of no use. “Why troublest thou the Master any further?” Mark 5:35. But remember, when “they laughed Him to scorn,” believing the girl to be past help, He kindly said to the parents: “Fear not: believe only.” “She is not dead, but sleepeth.” The one for whom you have sought God to give the bread of life, may long have been indifferent, careless, dead as far as human help is concerned; but the hand that wakened the girl who was past sense or feeling, can yet touch the object of your importunity, and that one will awake. “Fear not: believe only.” MAY NOT DISCERN THE LOAVES
The Master may not always give the loaves in the way that we look for them. Paul planned a triumphant journey to Rome. He wrote of his contemplated visit. He did visit Rome; but how different the entry from his anticipations! In the midst of criminals, chained and execrated, aged and in ill health, he entered Rome. He might have been tempted to say, I asked bread, but God has given me a stone. But no; and while he saw but little of the reasons why he should bear his testimony in bonds, yet in the persecution that followed, in which thousands were martyred, the example of Paul in those bonds, even until death, caused many to face death and bonds bravely. His testimony in bonds was a stronger witness than could have been borne had he gone as he desired. God gave him the loaves for his friends. He saw it by faith, and was satisfied. 2 Tim. 4:6-8. “Ask, and it shall be given you.” Luke 11:9. Trust God for the way. “Fear not: believe only.”