PUTTING OUR TRUST IN THE LORD.
By L. A. Hansen
CHRIST is the great Example for man to follow in everything, and only as he is in us, and is taken by us for an example, will we be able to do that which is right. We read in 1 Peter 2:21 that Christ has left us an example, and that we should follow in his steps. In the next verse we are told that he did no sin, and neither was guile found in his mouth. The twenty-third verse reads thus: “Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to Him that judgeth righteously.” We would understand from this that the reason he did no sin and there was no guile found in his mouth, and why he was able to bear being reviled without reviling again, was because he committed himself unto God. If we are to expect to live as Christ lived, without sin, with no guile in us, and not reviling again, then we must surely follow the example of Christ: we must commit ourselves unto God and put our trust in him. In Heb. 2:13 we have the words of Christ, saying, “I will put my trust in Him.” While here among men he told them, “I can of mine own self do nothing.” John 5:30. While it may be hard to comprehend how the mighty Son of God could be in a position where he could do nothing, absolutely no thing, yet he himself said that such was the case. As he realized his own inability to perform the great work that was given him to do by the Father, he took that course that would insure him strength to do the work, and said, “I will put my trust in him.” He committed himself to God, and not once did the Example of man trust in himself to accomplish the work that had been given him to do. The way Christ showed that he did put his trust in God was to give himself entirely into the Father’s hands, to be used by the Father at all times, and in any way according to the Father’s will. He said, “I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me.” “He became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross,” and in his great agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, when he prayed that if it were possible he might be spared the greatest ordeal of his life, he said to the Father, “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.” He submitted himself to the Father so unreservedly, let the Father use him so entirely, permitted the Father’s will to be done in and through him so completely, thus declaring the Father to the world (John 1:18), that Christ himself was not made known to the world. He said, “No man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.” Matt. 11:27. Notice that the Son is not revealed at all, but only the Father. It was “God manifest in the flesh,” and it was “God in Christ reconciling the world unto himself.” It was God in Christ that did the works that were done, according to the words of Jesus. See John 14:10. God “hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation,” and now we, in Christ’s stead, entreat the people to be reconciled to God. 2 Cor. 5:19, 20. It is the same work that Christ did while here, and we can not do it of ourselves any more than could he. As it was truth when he said of himself, “I can do nothing,” so it is true when he says to us, “Without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5), and it means again absolutely no thing. While we are of ourselves only weakness, yet we are to “be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” The Lord says to us each, “My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Cor. 12:9. Then, instead of being unable to do anything, we can each say, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Phil. 4:13. This will only be, however, as we follow the example of Christ, committing ourselves to the One that is mighty, let his will be done in us, and let him only be seen. As God was in Christ, we are to let Christ be in us, and then, with Christ in us, and God in Christ, our trust will be of that kind that will never be disappointed. Letting the mind of Christ be in us will cause us to do just as he did—hide self, and show only the Lord. We will be obedient unto death. “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind.” 1 Peter 4:1. Having this mind, we will be able to bear the revilings of men without reviling again. “Wherefore, let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator.” 1 Peter 4:19. 175 Central Ave., Indianapolis, Ind.