Great Outward Manifestations.
THERE are some who think that unless they see some great outward manifestation, there is no evidence of the working of divine power. They look for some great flight of indescribable feeling that seems to lift them from the very earth, and unless they find such an experience as this they think they have no connection with the life and power of God. All such persons should stop and reflect. The great forces of life and power work silently. Did you ever see any demonstration in the growing of a plant or a tree? You do not see the plant grow, much less hear it. It stands before you day after day in all its loveliness, but so far as your observation is concerned, at any particular time it seems to be standing still and not growing at all. But as you compare it to-day with what it was some weeks ago, you can see that a mighty change has taken place. Then it was perhaps only a very small plant; but to-day it has grown to a much greater size and shows the signs of budding flowers. All this growth has been quiet and silent; but it has had all the power of life in it, and each day has added its share of growth and beauty to the silently developing plant. And so with the Christian; he takes God's word into his mind and heart and feeds upon it day by day. He does not feel any of the intoxicating flights of ecstasy that so many people mistake for conversion and a necessary part of Christianity. But God's word is in the heart and is being watered by the divine Spirit, and while the individual himself may not feel or see any particular change in himself, yet those who are looking on can plainly see that a silent force is working that is transforming the life completely. "Putting away therefore all wickedness, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil-speakings, as new-born babes, long for the spiritual milk which is without guile, that ye may grow thereby unto salvation." 1 Peter 2:1, 2. The Christian is first made alive by accepting Christ thru believing on Him as revealed in His word. And being thus connected with the great Source of life there is a constant growth day by day. It is God's part to cause the growth, for He is the Fountain of life. It is for us to feed on the word, believing that the living word will accomplish our Father's purposes in us, no matter how we may feel.