Magnify Whom? or What?
By H. A. St. John
LUCIFER, altho highly magnified in heaven, was not satisfied with his position in glory, and conceived the idea of magnifying himself, a thing so disastrous that he can never reclaim himself from the depths of his fall. David says that whenever he made a slip, his enemies magnified themselves against him. Ps. 38:16. Mankind are prone to magnify themselves, to become wise in their own conceit, and this is always a sure precursor of a fall. The Lord ofttimes magnifies human beings in order to give them an influence for good as leaders in His work. He thus magnified Moses to such a degree that it is written that all Israel were baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea. Israel went into the sea full of doubts and murmurings against Moses. They came out full of confidence that he was the chosen of God to lead Israel to Canaan. When Joshua was chosen as Moses' successor, the Lord told him that He would magnify him before all the people. Joshua 3:7. And this He did not once only, but many times. When a man magnifies himself, he will take all praise to himself; but if the Lord lifts him up, he will give God all the praise. The "little horn" of Dan. 8:25, the world's greatest antichrist, magnified himself against the Prince of princes, and the people of the Prince, the saints of God. As a result, this power became drunken with the blood of the saints. All the fearful doings of the man of sin during the long Dark Ages, were the sure sequel of self-exaltation above God, His word, and His law. And still the evil work goes on. In Rom. 11:13, Paul says, "I am the apostle of the Gentiles; I magnify mine office." Observe, the apostle does not say that he magnified himself, no, no. He magnified his office. As he had received his commission from the Lord, he ever held it in high esteem and tried in every way to so fill his office that many souls might be gathered to Christ. The disciples were magnified before the people, that they might turn many people unto the Lord. The children of God in this world, whatever their calling, or wherever they may be, are magnified by the Gospel of salvation, that they may let their light shine for the salvation of others who sit in darkness. If we arise and shine, as we are bidden to do, Christ will be lifted up, magnified; before the world, and the whole earth will be lighted with His glory. When Jesus was in the world, the prophet says that He magnified the law and made it honorable. Isa. 42:21. He did not abolish the law, or reduce it to nine commandments, but by precept and example He constantly revealed its breadth and holiness. If we magnify Christ we will be like Him, and in and through us God's holy law and word will be magnified — made flesh, and dwell among men. Then will the beautiful and glorious life and character of Christ become beautiful and glorious in the earth. Lord Jesus, magnify Thyself, and Thy word, and Thy law in me.