Or let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me; and he shall make peace with me.
Let him take hold of my strength is God's open invitation to every fallen, burdened sinner to grasp Christ Himself by living faith and be reconciled to Him. The strength to be grasped is Christ Jesus, the Mighty One, whose atoning blood, perfect obedience and righteousness pardon, cleanse, clothe and keep the penitent so Satan cannot pluck them away. Taking hold is believing His word apart from feeling, praying earnestly and perseveringly, repenting with broken heart and confession, surrendering self and obeying, and clinging continually without letting go. Whoever does so shall certainly make peace with God and receive peace, rest, healing, joy, courage and power for service, with divine strength joined to human weakness. No one is compelled, but must choose whether to remain under Satan or become an heir of God, for refusing this present offer is scorning mercy and forfeiting life.
Invitation and Promise
The verse is a personal invitation from the Father and from Christ to fallen, degraded, erring and burdened people to come, grasp the outstretched hand, rest in love and be reconciled. The arms are open and the hand remains stretched out with pitying tenderness, for the Father's heart is grieved over sin yet His divine presence stays beside workers and beside the fallen, and Christ longs to help every soul and never neglects anyone who comes to Him. It is to be accepted and believed with longing desire, laying hold of His strength to enter into peace, turning from human wisdom, people and institutions that betray and forget to God as confidant and burden-bearer, since in humanity there is no solace for woe and distrust dishonors Him who has done so much. The human part is to be sober and watch unto prayer because the end is at hand, not growing discouraged in self-denial and self-sacrifice but remaining steadfastly in Him to be changed into His image and bear fruit. When trials press heavily and satanic opposition is strong through misrepresentation, open falsehood, buffeting and temptation, the tried are to take hold remembering that Christ poured out His soul unto death to obtain victories for them, while angels let light shine and heavenly agencies with the Holy Spirit make them more than conquerors.
The offer is universal to whosoever will, to the ends of the earth, including the heathen in midnight darkness, for since the veil was torn and a new living way opened all may reach out, lay hold of power and be reconciled. Anyone willing, even trembling souls, may take hold of God's strength and make peace with Him, and He will make peace with them in forgiveness and restoration. The message of hope and mercy is to be carried everywhere so the gloom disappears before the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness and none need remain wrapped in darkness. Taking hold joins the taker with others in cooperation with God and with prayers offered for them, helping fellow students to cooperate with Him, and making peace with God in this way also brings peace with others, even with those who do not know God, as Daniel made peace with God and thereby with one who knew Him not.
The invitation runs throughout probationary time and is for now, not some future time. God does not leave fallen people helpless, hopeless and afraid to seek pardon after Satan has led them into sin, but His Spirit entreats them to accept the gift of life, for He is long-suffering, His compassions fail not, He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked but calls the wicked to turn and live, having made in Christ every provision and encouragement for peace. Taking hold now means coming in faith without unbelief, dying to self, present consecration, receiving salvation today, being made righteous while it is not too late, cleansed from all sin, hoping for blessing, hiding in Him, accepting His light to give to others, growing up into the living Head, believing His word, letting Him reason, and committing the soul's keeping to a faithful Creator. It calls for walking humbly to be brought into peace instead of confusion, impurity and judgment, for readiness to meet God so as to stand when the earth reels, and for laying hold of resurrection power in this probationary time to rightly represent Christ to men and angels, keep the commandments, labor together with God in full view of heaven, and proclaim the Saviour's soon coming. Prevailing prayer moves Omnipotence to overrule enemies and restrain darkness until the warning is given.
The promise is positive, certain and twice repeated: whoever takes hold shall make peace and shall be given peace. There is no excuse for doubting; it is for human beings to believe and for the Lord to fulfil, and those who only believe and trust fully will be given victory, stand as living monuments of mercy and power, see God's salvation, and find Him a prayer-hearing and answering God. At a crisis in the work the taker steps over the gulf separating from God, and while the Holy Spirit softens careless hearts and Jesus stands ready to mold youth for God's glory and their eternal good, grasping His power by obeying with praying, believing, determined purpose brings strength from the Source of strength and imputed power and grace from the Sun of Righteousness. The gift includes rest in Jesus when tempted to think or speak unwisely, healing balm for every wound of body and soul, comfort, celestial harmony, confidence and hope rather than discouragement, joy made full, and strength for arduous service, with God combining His power with human effort. The worried and sick are to let nothing cause worry but come apart and rest awhile, draw healing leaves from the tree of life from Christ the great Physician, plead in prayer for self while others pray also, commit the soul's keeping to God to be preserved, sanctified and blessed, believe the unseen Christ walks alongside, speak heavenly words showing Christ within, and lift the heart to God when tempted to rash speech. The troubled need not let the future with hard problems and unsatisfying prospects make the heart faint, knees tremble or hands hang down, but may repose without drawback because He still loves.
No one is compelled to be saved; the promise is conditional on taking hold. Although Adam's transgression broke the law and placed the family under Satan as his subjects, and the sinless Christ was numbered with transgressors on the cross to release sinful lost captives ready to die under Satan's power, each one bought at infinite price decides by his own course whether to remain a subject of Satan's kingdom or become a subject of God's kingdom, an heir of God and joint-heir with Christ, a loyal subject and child of the heavenly King. The convicted sinner must choose to turn, stop continuing in sin, seek aid, receive Christ and the free gift of His righteousness with attributes of character that make men sons and daughters of God, for God is ready to forgive, give pardon and power to repent, turn and overcome, and work in the heart, but He does not force the choice or replace willing response. Through the whole probation He withholds anger while warnings, invitations and the presentation of righteousness are given, yearning to save Christ's purchase from the sure result of a wrong course and from wrath. Refusing is scorning mercy, despising and rejecting the Saviour, rejecting sonship and forfeiting everlasting life.
The verse graciously encourages those walking contrary to God to humble the proud heart, clear guilt by full confession of sin, and grasp Christ's outstretched saving hand while sliding over the precipice toward ruin so He can place them on vantage ground. Christ waits to do this work and is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God by Him because He ever lives to make intercession, waiting to bestow salvation, rich blessings and precious victories. Refusing leaves souls in darkness carrying the burden of sin away, continuing to dishonor God, robbing themselves of the salvation He waits to give, and becoming less impressible than before.
Taking Hold by Faith
To take hold is to lay hold by faith upon the only power that can make a person complete, clasping Christ's hand in every place and in every emergency and trusting His word apart from feeling upon a Thus saith the Lord. It is living faith that comes to Him with confidence and reliance on His power, feeding on the bread of life, cultivating the gift of faith, and growing in faith and confidence and knowledge. Even when His purpose in His dealings and the consequence of those dealings cannot be seen, faith still believes, pointing forward and upward to things to come. Those who so take hold are not disappointed, for Christ gives the light that He alone can give, shining into the heart so that it is reflected to others, while those who fail to claim the promises remain weak. Such taking hold makes peace with God, brings renewal unto righteousness shown in good fruit, the fruit of the Spirit in pleasant words, true courtesy and unselfish actions, with character made fragrant and life freed from overbearing and oppression, and it requires bravery to overcome every practice that mars the soul temple and refusal to neglect, misuse or deprive the organs and faculties God has given of health and efficiency.
Taking hold is effected by earnest crying to God, laying the sinful condition, even a polluted soul, before Him in contrite, persevering prayer and relying on His strength. Prayer lays hold of that strength, whether in pleading the promise for restoration of the sick in trust in the great Healer, in silent prayer at all times and places, in pleading promises and Christ's merits, or in importunate prayer for self and others. Those who so seek Him know that He hears and answers, and the result is peace with Him. Prevailing prayer of this kind moves the arm of Omnipotence.
Taking hold means humble repentance with broken heart and contrite spirit, becoming sensible of defects of character, personally approaching the footstool of mercy, baring the heart for inspection, and believing the Lord listens to every word uttered in repentance and confession. It is turning to Him humbly, confessing sins and transgressions, asking for help into the light, praying for forgiveness and trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ and His merits, with the Holy Spirit guiding the prayers and making conscience faithful to its entrusted work. It means putting entire trust in the Lord, serving Him with heart and soul, renouncing idols and self-righteousness, returning from rebellion and apostasy, ceasing to break the Sabbath, turning the face to the Sun of Righteousness, and believing pardon is given. Coming just as one is, as a needy child to a heavenly Father, is not humiliating and degrading but a prodigal returning, whom God hastens to meet, enfolds in arms of infinite love, covers with the robe of His righteousness and receives as the father received the prodigal, scattering all sins committed in disregard and defiance of His law. In time of anguish the righteous so cling to the promise, confess and repent past sins and plead day and night for deliverance as a matter of life or death even when hope nearly fails in reviewing life, and the one who takes hold will still be tempted and tried and must walk softly before God at every step.
Taking hold means utter dependence upon God joined with cooperation with the Lord Jesus Christ with all the faculties, bringing truth into practical life as a doer of the Word, for without this cooperation and obedience truth will not sanctify and save, and without Christ nothing can be done. It is being yoked up with Christ, cleaving to Him and twining about Him by faith, placing whole dependence on the Lord Jesus, keeping the eyes on Him, dying to self and obeying the written Word. Making peace is showing love for Jesus by doing His words, and this obedient dependence is the mark and spirit of all united to Him by vital connection, by which judgment will be decided according to whether His words were appreciated and obeyed. His power is not given without effort on man's part in the work of salvation, but those yoked with Christ are safe in any peril and enabled to turn from wrongdoing, reform ways, work out salvation and work for the good of others, while souls not yoked drop out of the ranks.
Taking hold is clinging to the Mighty One with all powers as the only help and hope, trusting Him and His word with determined effort, laying hold by believing faith with self-denial and strong faith and never letting go. It is looking to Him as for life, and by that looking living and seeing the salvation of God. This union gives stability so circumstances cannot rule the life, the child of God and heir of heaven does not drift hither and thither like an anchorless ship tossed by winds and waves, but stays at the post of duty until God releases, standing as true as steel to principle, refusing inconsistent actions under suspicion, cherishing no evil sentiments, and trusting God to work and bring out of the furnace as gold seven times purified. God's hand is always within reach to uplift, strengthen and save to the uttermost all who come, with thoughts of mercy and unerring judgment, giving presence and freedom to the one who does not cast himself on the enemy's side but speaks gospel truth and ministers in word and doctrine, and He is found a stronghold with everlasting love when the church is militant, friends prove treacherous and enemies revile.
Taking hold renounces all trust in self and casts the helpless soul just as it is upon Christ, giving self to God and trusting in Christ who waits to save, saying in surrender that he gives himself to God and believing he is still God's son and that God has not withdrawn His Spirit or ceased to save. Peace comes not as reward of merit but as gift to such helplessness, by casting away self-righteousness and accepting Christ's righteousness and by relying by faith on infinite power, as the publican's prayer was heard because it showed this dependence. It is staying the mind on Jesus and keeping communion with Him in daily life, looking away from self and unworthiness to His worthiness, depending on His mercy and drawing strength and nourishment from Him, with promises held fast without giving up. It is simple faith and trust in His love shown in giving His own life to save, refusing to distrust that love, refusing to look on the dark side or dwell on darkness and gloom, being hopeful in God, beholding Jesus as sin-pardoning Saviour until changed into His image, breaking with the enemy, having binding cords cut, being set free and free indeed, belonging to the Lord without fear, and educating and strengthening the mind by confessing freedom and praising with rejoicing, so that despair gives way to hope and praise rises from the heart.
Christ the Strength
The strength to be grasped is the Lord Himself, Christ Jesus, the Mighty One and Israel's Strength, helper and sanctification and righteousness and firm support as eternal as the throne, to be taken hold of by living faith. He is able to defeat the enemy, imparts power to those who believe His word, and promises to walk beside them as their health and sufficiency and life-giving strength, so that clinging firmly to Him brings peace with God. Christ is the believer's personal Saviour and the ground of acceptance with the Father, whose power enables victory over every sinful practice, while human strength is unreliable and leaves a man as liable as any other to err in judgment, so peace and safety come only from trusting the Lord's strength rather than self. Taking hold calls for using all physical, mental and moral power without waste or misuse, laying firm hold of Christ with one hand while with the other embracing souls ready to perish and fastening them to Christ by earnest, living faith. In this taking hold people rely on Christ for power to obey as He lived the law in humanity, and workers lay hold of that strength in Christlike unity so their work will glorify God.
Through Christ's atoning blood and merits and perfect obedience unto death, He joins His righteousness to confession, bears sins as substitute and surety, clothes the penitent in His robe, and secures pardon and cleansing and acceptance. The repentant sinner finds peace by trusting Christ and coming to God through Him, so that his prayer is accepted and grace imparted, his sins cleansed, and through faith he is freed from bondage and condemnation and made just before God. God pledges peace to every soul that turns from sin and casts itself helplessly upon Jesus even when Satan claims that person as his own, for fleeing to Jesus and relying on the merits of His blood opens peace with God. Since people cannot keep God's law by their own strength, they must repent, make every effort to obey, and trust in Christ, and God accepts their efforts and imputes Christ's righteousness to them through faith as He brings His righteousness to them. Not one soul who in penitence and faith claims His protection and takes hold of His strength will be permitted to pass under the enemy's power, but such a one receives mercy and reconciliation from the Father, pardon and grace, cleansing of iniquity and clothing with the robe of Christ's righteousness, and stands before Him as chosen and faithful and true. His perfect obedience unto the death of the cross gives Him all power in heaven and earth to vanquish the accuser, to plead the cause of the guilty, and to hold securely all who take hold so that Satan has no power to pluck them out of His hand, angels walk with them in this world, and they stand at last among the angels around the throne of God.
Christ in human nature relied on divine strength to live the law and overcome every temptation, redeeming Adam's failure and placing fallen people on vantage ground. The verse was written for mankind as the provision by which a pure, sinless character can be maintained in this world, for Christ lived God's law in His human character by taking hold of divine strength in this way, and all can live the law in human nature in just the same way if they do as He did. It refutes Satan's lie that it is not possible for human beings to keep the law of God. Jesus in human nature conquered every temptation in behalf of the fallen race, passed over the ground where Adam failed and redeemed that failure, showing that in every temptation where Satan assails fallen man there is help in God through obedience. His victory is a pledge that the feeblest person can resist Satan on every point, refuse to yield, and overcome as Christ overcame by connecting with Christ as a branch united to the vine, absorbing the elements of His life and becoming a partaker of the divine nature, with power to become sons of God and entitlement through grace to come into relation with God. Everyone who under temptation looks to Christ the conqueror receives angels to press back the foe just as angels ministered to Christ, and those who rely on Him may receive strength to obey and serve rather than depending on other people for direction.
The verse reveals a compassionate Saviour full of love who longs to receive the weary and sin-sick and trembling, pities needy souls, gives courage to return, and invites intimate communion where sorrows and mistakes and troubles are brought to Him for relief and comfort and assurance. He longs to receive those who come with broken hearts and contrite spirits, and they can grasp His hand and find hope and courage. It assures the tempted and trembling that they need not fear seeking pardon, for God has made provision for human weakness and invites them to come to Christ. God is merciful and understands human weakness and temptation, and when people come with broken hearts and contrite spirits He accepts their repentance and promises peace as they rely on His strength. Those weary of sin are to be helped with words of hope and courage to grasp His hand.
God joins His strength to human weakness and His knowledge to ignorance, teaching those who live by His word, keeping them from stumbling, delivering from temptation, protecting those who claim His protection in penitence and faith, and keeping them by divine power as exemplified when divinity was clothed with humanity. The power to overcome Satan in his effort to obtain the mastery is with God, and man has strength only through Jesus Christ, by daily exercising faith and believing in His power to save to the uttermost all who come to Him, and those who do so make peace with God and are given power to become sons of God. Christ has power to help people overcome the enemy and gain victory, and His strength is effective help for the weak, enabling them to overcome and continue in the Christian life rather than be discouraged by their own insufficiency. God provides complete help so that Satan cannot overpower the person who walks humbly with God and trusts in Christ, and anyone who comes to Christ in penitence and faith and claims His protection will not be given over to Satan. Christ offers His strength to save a person in danger and calls him to take hold of it, and accepting His help brings him to peace with God and helps him stand against the enemy.
Peace and Pardon Given
Making peace is forgiveness and restoration by taking hold of divine strength. The Saviour receives those who come, forgives transgressions, cleanses and purifies, accepts and lifts up, while refusing to come or to acknowledge defects of character keeps help from being received. Those who have wandered are called to return with repentance and a whole heart, and when trials, adversity and disappointed hopes lead them back, He draws near, receives them with assurances of pardon, and gives peace. Even the one who has sinned and feels beyond help may come, confess, let transgression be removed, and be restored, for He is ready to restore all who turn. As His love draws the sinner to sorrow for sin and desire to turn from evil, strength from on high is given to help, and trusting that pardon is given brings peace. Those thus pardoned are transformed by grace into new, pure, holy children of light who walk in obedience and receive temporal and spiritual advantages.
Making peace also brings safety in peril and victory in the warfare against sin. Taking hold means remembering Christ at the side saying not to fear because He has overcome the world, uniting with Him as Prince of heaven in eternal warfare against the principles of sin, and becoming a worker together with God in that warfare rather than failing or betraying self and companions into the enemy's hands by influence. Reliance on His power enables holding firmly to Christian integrity and standing firm against sin amid continuing temptation. That connection gives power to resist temptation, deny self, keep vital union with Christ, and sow to the Spirit instead of leaning to self-indulgence and self-gratification where the warfare of flesh and Spirit would end in defeat to the Spirit. In this way believers become partakers with Christ of His sufferings in the path of self-denial from the manger to Calvary, and His strength delivers from temptation and upholds those who rely on Him.
Peace with God brings peace with others. Taking hold means joining together with others, cooperating with God and with the prayers offered, and helping fellow learners to cooperate with Him. As Daniel made peace with God and thereby made peace with one who knew not God, so making peace with God makes peace even with those who do not know Him. Through Christ's Spirit those at peace with God can then be at peace with fellow workers. Full consecration makes the heart a treasure-house of knowledge, and in surrender the heart takes hold of the strength of God's Spirit and is brought into God's keeping.
Peace is given with joy, cheerfulness, courage, hope and song. Taking hold in weakness and peril makes peace, and peace will surely follow, for God interposes Himself between the believer and difficulties that look formidable, with flame and flood behind Him. The result is lifting up the Man of Calvary with voice and song and a life-service of thanksgiving and praise, keeping cheerful and full of faith and courage and hope. Elijah illustrates this, a man subject to like passions whose strength was the Lord and whose earnest prayer was heard. The sin-sick soul is invited to lay hold by faith with assurance that peace will be given, Christ sharing His glorious power so that joy may be full, and this is to be held out to sufferers with words of comfort, hope, cheerfulness and soft singing of praises to help them trust and accept peace. Bringing sorrows, troubles, mistakes and errors to Jesus in intimate communion brings peace and comfort to the heart, with relief and assurance.
Getting right with God includes accurate reckoning and restitution for wrongs such as withheld and misused tithe. It means redeeming the past by making an accurate reckoning of tithe withheld and returning what was taken from His work, bringing a faithful tithe with a willing thank offering and peace offerings. It requires acknowledging the wrong done in misusing His goods with free and full repentance, and upon that repentance and restitution He forgives the transgression and blessing follows.
Taking hold means fastening to the promise, putting on the armor of light, keeping the eye of the mind single to the glory of God, and seeking wisdom and strength and grace from above, because no human power can be wisdom and righteousness and sanctification. That divine wisdom, strength, firmness and heroism enables standing in the way of holiness when Satan works through jealousy, flattery, deception, sophistry, smiles or frowns, entrapment, and unknown future obstacles and embarrassments to defeat God's purpose to make His people channels of light and to compass their destruction. It requires watching unto prayer.
Trial and Final Conflict
In the time of anguish, the time of Jacob's trouble and the time of trouble, the righteous cling to the promise to take hold of divine strength and make peace, pleading it day and night in crying for deliverance even when answers are delayed. Their faith persists because sins are repented, forgiven and no longer a ground for despair, with no concealed, unconfessed sin remaining, and they continue to intercede and lay hold until they prevail and are delivered by the divine voice. Their confidence rests on being at peace with God through true repentance, trusting for blessing as Jacob clung to the Angel.
Jacob's struggle illustrates the meaning, for helpless, penitent and persistent, he surrendered self and wrestled as with the Angel for blessing. The victory he could not win by his own strength came through self-surrender and steadfast faith, which Christ granted to the helpless soul's request.
From now until the close of this earth's history the call runs to every soul to take hold of Christ's strength and make peace by falling into line with God and falling into the hands of the living God, whose mercies are great, rather than falling into the hands of men. This is refuge from the fearful confederacy inaugurated by Satan in which unholy human agencies combine with demon forces imbued by satanic impulses, a vast confederacy of evil arrayed against God, against Christ, and against all who unite with the holy powers. Those who would be saved must rely by faith on Christ's might in closest communion, putting on Christ, keeping God's commandments in unity of one heart bound up with Christ and with one another and hid with Christ in God, resisting an encroaching world that would press in and separate from the source of strength. They fight in fellowship with all the children of light, not in their own human strength but armed with more than mortal energy by God, Christ and the Holy Spirit, with the angelic host coming as ministers into the battle, since Christ left heaven, His riches, command, honor and glory to save the world from death. This dependence alone carries through the closing scenes to victory, the unfading crown and crown of life, enabling them when challenged and in coming conflict, perplexity, trouble and deception to claim the experience of Jacob, the everlasting covenant of peace, and to be placed and multiplied as His people with His sanctuary in their midst forever, with Him as their God sanctifying them.
Ministers and workers must come nearer where by living faith they can take hold of strength and claim salvation and be strong, through self-examination, meditation and prayer rather than trusting in study, ability and pleasing discourses, so that devotion and true godliness give power and influence to preaching. They must grasp strength by faith before preaching and seek Christ until they know they are forgiven and accepted. Those who see light and truth yet lack the power the message requires and rest in sleepy indifference even on the borders of the eternal world must awake and take hold upon the Mighty One in this way, until the truth becomes a living reality, and then will follow missionary work, decided testimonies, a trumpet giving a certain sound in warnings, reproofs and entreaties, and earnest labor by all to save perishing souls.
Strength for Daily Life
The strength offered to be grasped gives power for self-control and victory over sin, over evil temper, selfishness and pride, and over intemperance and every sinful practice. It makes possible a self-directed life of Christ's righteousness, rising in moral value with God and becoming one with Christ in God. Genuine reform is possible only by divine power, awakening deadened moral sensibility to see need of a loving, sin-pardoning Saviour who as Creator and Redeemer and Restorer cooperates with man in personal restoration, while Satan is only the destroyer. Grasping that strength means faith cleaving through the dark shadow cast between soul and God to lay hold of glory beyond, refusing to be false to the Maker, refusing to make a god of the stomach, refusing to becloud the senses by overeating and to use stimulants and narcotics and forget God. It is done by daily eating the bread of life, making the Bible guide and counsellor by which the mind is strengthened and built up as the body is built up by food, so that through the blood of the Lamb the grasping ones become overcomers with glorious victory and do not disappoint Him who became poor that through His poverty they might be made rich.
The same grasp is for the sick, the hopeless and the afflicted to trust Christ as great Physician of soul and body and wonderful Healer, taking hold through faith and prayer for restoration. Many threatened with consumption can overcome the disease through faith in God as the mighty Healer. Consent to come under His saving influence, feeling need of Him and being purified by His blood, brings peace with Him. Physicians placed in trial, temptation and danger stand firm in allegiance only by that strength, and God becomes helper of every physician who works together with Him to restore suffering humanity by nature's remedies instead of drugs, giving success to those in partnership with Him and pointing sufferers to Christ alone.
In the home the promise means clinging to Jesus and His strength without losing hold when provoking trials, difficulties, obstacles, emergencies and opposing influence come in saving children and staying on the highway of holiness. It means walking in the light, looking constantly to Jesus, asking what to do in every emergency, refusing to storm or fret or scold, and receiving His help to use speech in a Christlike way that brings patience, comfort and love so peace and love reign in the home. Parents are to speak with God about responsibility to educate and train children to reverence, self-control, conversion and a religion revealing saving power, bringing blessing to home and church, and to work for their salvation with persevering effort and developing self-control. Children who so trust are fortified against surrounding vice and corruption, and the Lord guides their youth, while in molding and disciplining youth kindness is to be firm, living interest shown, youth held up in prayer, dependence on God made visible, and mercy and love and tenderness revealed, with angels and mighty power present so workers are not alone.
God's servants amid trials and perplexities are called to lay hold on divine strength with clean hands, pure heart and holy consecrated wholehearted endeavor, putting the whole heart into the work without flagging zeal. Such grasp brings settled peace, sight of salvation, and confidence, assurance and strength in the heart, enabling humble servants to undertake the most arduous and responsible service when required and to trust the work will go forward even when its way cannot be seen. They press forward to gain the triumphs of the cross, striving for a crown of immortality and a life measuring with the life of God, counting the cost and working together with God. They are to fasten hold on God as channels of light, depend on His power, rely on Him before going to speak words of life and labor for unbelievers, work with His Spirit to save the perishing, and teach the awakened from rich instruction of the Word how to take hold of the arm of the Lord, so good emotions and impressions become permanent good and sinners are drawn by love without amusement diverting serious conviction.
The promise sustains in financial perplexity, sickness, bereavement, discouragement, wounds and weakness, and is for all God's people and not a favored few. Making peace begins by taking hold of strength and seeking God as friend, whose care and approval make endeavors successful rather than outward prosperity alone. The worried are to bring God every perplexity and close financial battle in faith, trusting He understands all about the situation and will work in their behalf, and He is honored by such trust. They are to rest awhile, draw healing leaves from the tree of life, trust His sustaining power that He will not abandon or let them perish, and lay aside labor to recover health for His service.
Peace comes by taking hold of God's strength rather than the strength of any human being, minister, institution or headquarters, whether in South Africa or Battle Creek or elsewhere. God is just as accessible in every place, calling His people to grasp His power and efficiency directly, live at peace with Him, refuse to put men where God should be, and work the vein of truth deeper by personal trust. No minister or disciple is to take His place as conscience, sin-bearer or mediator, but all are to direct souls to God Himself for pardon and power in order to bring forth lasting fruit. Human help, strength and judgment are fallible and fail or betray, while Christ is the sure refuge and help for helpless souls tired of relying on people, receiving, strengthening and comforting those who bring Him their troubles, including one long under deceptive influence and false science invited to respond and find peace.
Taking hold brings light patiently given, and that light increases responsibility so that failure to use it leaves no excuse and calls for humble response without self-exaltation and personal answer for light received rather than hiding it. Christ reaches out to save and those responding rely on His firm help as He leads to safety, with trust rather than reliance on self, and with strength for overcoming evil and growing in holiness so peace is found even in discouragement. The appeal is to seek God's help personally and let others pray on one's behalf. That help gives guidance, growth in knowledge and character, stability like an anchored ship, freedom from confusion and impurity, and power to stand, serve and glorify God in every emergency, business vexation, temptation and duty.
Let him take hold of my strength is God's open invitation to every fallen, burdened sinner to grasp Christ Himself by living faith and be reconciled to Him. The strength to be grasped is Christ Jesus, the Mighty One, whose atoning blood, perfect obedience and righteousness pardon, cleanse, clothe and keep the penitent so Satan cannot pluck them away. Taking hold is believing His word apart from feeling, praying earnestly and perseveringly, repenting with broken heart and confession, surrendering self and obeying, and clinging continually without letting go. Whoever does so shall certainly make peace with God and receive peace, rest, healing, joy, courage and power for service, with divine strength joined to human weakness. No one is compelled, but must choose whether to remain under Satan or become an heir of God, for refusing this present offer is scorning mercy and forfeiting life.
Invitation and Promise
The verse is a personal invitation from the Father and from Christ to fallen, degraded, erring and burdened people to come, grasp the outstretched hand, rest in love and be reconciled. The arms are open and the hand remains stretched out with pitying tenderness, for the Father's heart is grieved over sin yet His divine presence stays beside workers and beside the fallen, and Christ longs to help every soul and never neglects anyone who comes to Him. It is to be accepted and believed with longing desire, laying hold of His strength to enter into peace, turning from human wisdom, people and institutions that betray and forget to God as confidant and burden-bearer, since in humanity there is no solace for woe and distrust dishonors Him who has done so much. The human part is to be sober and watch unto prayer because the end is at hand, not growing discouraged in self-denial and self-sacrifice but remaining steadfastly in Him to be changed into His image and bear fruit. When trials press heavily and satanic opposition is strong through misrepresentation, open falsehood, buffeting and temptation, the tried are to take hold remembering that Christ poured out His soul unto death to obtain victories for them, while angels let light shine and heavenly agencies with the Holy Spirit make them more than conquerors.
The offer is universal to whosoever will, to the ends of the earth, including the heathen in midnight darkness, for since the veil was torn and a new living way opened all may reach out, lay hold of power and be reconciled. Anyone willing, even trembling souls, may take hold of God's strength and make peace with Him, and He will make peace with them in forgiveness and restoration. The message of hope and mercy is to be carried everywhere so the gloom disappears before the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness and none need remain wrapped in darkness. Taking hold joins the taker with others in cooperation with God and with prayers offered for them, helping fellow students to cooperate with Him, and making peace with God in this way also brings peace with others, even with those who do not know God, as Daniel made peace with God and thereby with one who knew Him not.
The invitation runs throughout probationary time and is for now, not some future time. God does not leave fallen people helpless, hopeless and afraid to seek pardon after Satan has led them into sin, but His Spirit entreats them to accept the gift of life, for He is long-suffering, His compassions fail not, He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked but calls the wicked to turn and live, having made in Christ every provision and encouragement for peace. Taking hold now means coming in faith without unbelief, dying to self, present consecration, receiving salvation today, being made righteous while it is not too late, cleansed from all sin, hoping for blessing, hiding in Him, accepting His light to give to others, growing up into the living Head, believing His word, letting Him reason, and committing the soul's keeping to a faithful Creator. It calls for walking humbly to be brought into peace instead of confusion, impurity and judgment, for readiness to meet God so as to stand when the earth reels, and for laying hold of resurrection power in this probationary time to rightly represent Christ to men and angels, keep the commandments, labor together with God in full view of heaven, and proclaim the Saviour's soon coming. Prevailing prayer moves Omnipotence to overrule enemies and restrain darkness until the warning is given.
The promise is positive, certain and twice repeated: whoever takes hold shall make peace and shall be given peace. There is no excuse for doubting; it is for human beings to believe and for the Lord to fulfil, and those who only believe and trust fully will be given victory, stand as living monuments of mercy and power, see God's salvation, and find Him a prayer-hearing and answering God. At a crisis in the work the taker steps over the gulf separating from God, and while the Holy Spirit softens careless hearts and Jesus stands ready to mold youth for God's glory and their eternal good, grasping His power by obeying with praying, believing, determined purpose brings strength from the Source of strength and imputed power and grace from the Sun of Righteousness. The gift includes rest in Jesus when tempted to think or speak unwisely, healing balm for every wound of body and soul, comfort, celestial harmony, confidence and hope rather than discouragement, joy made full, and strength for arduous service, with God combining His power with human effort. The worried and sick are to let nothing cause worry but come apart and rest awhile, draw healing leaves from the tree of life from Christ the great Physician, plead in prayer for self while others pray also, commit the soul's keeping to God to be preserved, sanctified and blessed, believe the unseen Christ walks alongside, speak heavenly words showing Christ within, and lift the heart to God when tempted to rash speech. The troubled need not let the future with hard problems and unsatisfying prospects make the heart faint, knees tremble or hands hang down, but may repose without drawback because He still loves.
No one is compelled to be saved; the promise is conditional on taking hold. Although Adam's transgression broke the law and placed the family under Satan as his subjects, and the sinless Christ was numbered with transgressors on the cross to release sinful lost captives ready to die under Satan's power, each one bought at infinite price decides by his own course whether to remain a subject of Satan's kingdom or become a subject of God's kingdom, an heir of God and joint-heir with Christ, a loyal subject and child of the heavenly King. The convicted sinner must choose to turn, stop continuing in sin, seek aid, receive Christ and the free gift of His righteousness with attributes of character that make men sons and daughters of God, for God is ready to forgive, give pardon and power to repent, turn and overcome, and work in the heart, but He does not force the choice or replace willing response. Through the whole probation He withholds anger while warnings, invitations and the presentation of righteousness are given, yearning to save Christ's purchase from the sure result of a wrong course and from wrath. Refusing is scorning mercy, despising and rejecting the Saviour, rejecting sonship and forfeiting everlasting life.
The verse graciously encourages those walking contrary to God to humble the proud heart, clear guilt by full confession of sin, and grasp Christ's outstretched saving hand while sliding over the precipice toward ruin so He can place them on vantage ground. Christ waits to do this work and is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God by Him because He ever lives to make intercession, waiting to bestow salvation, rich blessings and precious victories. Refusing leaves souls in darkness carrying the burden of sin away, continuing to dishonor God, robbing themselves of the salvation He waits to give, and becoming less impressible than before.
Taking Hold by Faith
To take hold is to lay hold by faith upon the only power that can make a person complete, clasping Christ's hand in every place and in every emergency and trusting His word apart from feeling upon a Thus saith the Lord. It is living faith that comes to Him with confidence and reliance on His power, feeding on the bread of life, cultivating the gift of faith, and growing in faith and confidence and knowledge. Even when His purpose in His dealings and the consequence of those dealings cannot be seen, faith still believes, pointing forward and upward to things to come. Those who so take hold are not disappointed, for Christ gives the light that He alone can give, shining into the heart so that it is reflected to others, while those who fail to claim the promises remain weak. Such taking hold makes peace with God, brings renewal unto righteousness shown in good fruit, the fruit of the Spirit in pleasant words, true courtesy and unselfish actions, with character made fragrant and life freed from overbearing and oppression, and it requires bravery to overcome every practice that mars the soul temple and refusal to neglect, misuse or deprive the organs and faculties God has given of health and efficiency.
Taking hold is effected by earnest crying to God, laying the sinful condition, even a polluted soul, before Him in contrite, persevering prayer and relying on His strength. Prayer lays hold of that strength, whether in pleading the promise for restoration of the sick in trust in the great Healer, in silent prayer at all times and places, in pleading promises and Christ's merits, or in importunate prayer for self and others. Those who so seek Him know that He hears and answers, and the result is peace with Him. Prevailing prayer of this kind moves the arm of Omnipotence.
Taking hold means humble repentance with broken heart and contrite spirit, becoming sensible of defects of character, personally approaching the footstool of mercy, baring the heart for inspection, and believing the Lord listens to every word uttered in repentance and confession. It is turning to Him humbly, confessing sins and transgressions, asking for help into the light, praying for forgiveness and trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ and His merits, with the Holy Spirit guiding the prayers and making conscience faithful to its entrusted work. It means putting entire trust in the Lord, serving Him with heart and soul, renouncing idols and self-righteousness, returning from rebellion and apostasy, ceasing to break the Sabbath, turning the face to the Sun of Righteousness, and believing pardon is given. Coming just as one is, as a needy child to a heavenly Father, is not humiliating and degrading but a prodigal returning, whom God hastens to meet, enfolds in arms of infinite love, covers with the robe of His righteousness and receives as the father received the prodigal, scattering all sins committed in disregard and defiance of His law. In time of anguish the righteous so cling to the promise, confess and repent past sins and plead day and night for deliverance as a matter of life or death even when hope nearly fails in reviewing life, and the one who takes hold will still be tempted and tried and must walk softly before God at every step.
Taking hold means utter dependence upon God joined with cooperation with the Lord Jesus Christ with all the faculties, bringing truth into practical life as a doer of the Word, for without this cooperation and obedience truth will not sanctify and save, and without Christ nothing can be done. It is being yoked up with Christ, cleaving to Him and twining about Him by faith, placing whole dependence on the Lord Jesus, keeping the eyes on Him, dying to self and obeying the written Word. Making peace is showing love for Jesus by doing His words, and this obedient dependence is the mark and spirit of all united to Him by vital connection, by which judgment will be decided according to whether His words were appreciated and obeyed. His power is not given without effort on man's part in the work of salvation, but those yoked with Christ are safe in any peril and enabled to turn from wrongdoing, reform ways, work out salvation and work for the good of others, while souls not yoked drop out of the ranks.
Taking hold is clinging to the Mighty One with all powers as the only help and hope, trusting Him and His word with determined effort, laying hold by believing faith with self-denial and strong faith and never letting go. It is looking to Him as for life, and by that looking living and seeing the salvation of God. This union gives stability so circumstances cannot rule the life, the child of God and heir of heaven does not drift hither and thither like an anchorless ship tossed by winds and waves, but stays at the post of duty until God releases, standing as true as steel to principle, refusing inconsistent actions under suspicion, cherishing no evil sentiments, and trusting God to work and bring out of the furnace as gold seven times purified. God's hand is always within reach to uplift, strengthen and save to the uttermost all who come, with thoughts of mercy and unerring judgment, giving presence and freedom to the one who does not cast himself on the enemy's side but speaks gospel truth and ministers in word and doctrine, and He is found a stronghold with everlasting love when the church is militant, friends prove treacherous and enemies revile.
Taking hold renounces all trust in self and casts the helpless soul just as it is upon Christ, giving self to God and trusting in Christ who waits to save, saying in surrender that he gives himself to God and believing he is still God's son and that God has not withdrawn His Spirit or ceased to save. Peace comes not as reward of merit but as gift to such helplessness, by casting away self-righteousness and accepting Christ's righteousness and by relying by faith on infinite power, as the publican's prayer was heard because it showed this dependence. It is staying the mind on Jesus and keeping communion with Him in daily life, looking away from self and unworthiness to His worthiness, depending on His mercy and drawing strength and nourishment from Him, with promises held fast without giving up. It is simple faith and trust in His love shown in giving His own life to save, refusing to distrust that love, refusing to look on the dark side or dwell on darkness and gloom, being hopeful in God, beholding Jesus as sin-pardoning Saviour until changed into His image, breaking with the enemy, having binding cords cut, being set free and free indeed, belonging to the Lord without fear, and educating and strengthening the mind by confessing freedom and praising with rejoicing, so that despair gives way to hope and praise rises from the heart.
Christ the Strength
The strength to be grasped is the Lord Himself, Christ Jesus, the Mighty One and Israel's Strength, helper and sanctification and righteousness and firm support as eternal as the throne, to be taken hold of by living faith. He is able to defeat the enemy, imparts power to those who believe His word, and promises to walk beside them as their health and sufficiency and life-giving strength, so that clinging firmly to Him brings peace with God. Christ is the believer's personal Saviour and the ground of acceptance with the Father, whose power enables victory over every sinful practice, while human strength is unreliable and leaves a man as liable as any other to err in judgment, so peace and safety come only from trusting the Lord's strength rather than self. Taking hold calls for using all physical, mental and moral power without waste or misuse, laying firm hold of Christ with one hand while with the other embracing souls ready to perish and fastening them to Christ by earnest, living faith. In this taking hold people rely on Christ for power to obey as He lived the law in humanity, and workers lay hold of that strength in Christlike unity so their work will glorify God.
Through Christ's atoning blood and merits and perfect obedience unto death, He joins His righteousness to confession, bears sins as substitute and surety, clothes the penitent in His robe, and secures pardon and cleansing and acceptance. The repentant sinner finds peace by trusting Christ and coming to God through Him, so that his prayer is accepted and grace imparted, his sins cleansed, and through faith he is freed from bondage and condemnation and made just before God. God pledges peace to every soul that turns from sin and casts itself helplessly upon Jesus even when Satan claims that person as his own, for fleeing to Jesus and relying on the merits of His blood opens peace with God. Since people cannot keep God's law by their own strength, they must repent, make every effort to obey, and trust in Christ, and God accepts their efforts and imputes Christ's righteousness to them through faith as He brings His righteousness to them. Not one soul who in penitence and faith claims His protection and takes hold of His strength will be permitted to pass under the enemy's power, but such a one receives mercy and reconciliation from the Father, pardon and grace, cleansing of iniquity and clothing with the robe of Christ's righteousness, and stands before Him as chosen and faithful and true. His perfect obedience unto the death of the cross gives Him all power in heaven and earth to vanquish the accuser, to plead the cause of the guilty, and to hold securely all who take hold so that Satan has no power to pluck them out of His hand, angels walk with them in this world, and they stand at last among the angels around the throne of God.
Christ in human nature relied on divine strength to live the law and overcome every temptation, redeeming Adam's failure and placing fallen people on vantage ground. The verse was written for mankind as the provision by which a pure, sinless character can be maintained in this world, for Christ lived God's law in His human character by taking hold of divine strength in this way, and all can live the law in human nature in just the same way if they do as He did. It refutes Satan's lie that it is not possible for human beings to keep the law of God. Jesus in human nature conquered every temptation in behalf of the fallen race, passed over the ground where Adam failed and redeemed that failure, showing that in every temptation where Satan assails fallen man there is help in God through obedience. His victory is a pledge that the feeblest person can resist Satan on every point, refuse to yield, and overcome as Christ overcame by connecting with Christ as a branch united to the vine, absorbing the elements of His life and becoming a partaker of the divine nature, with power to become sons of God and entitlement through grace to come into relation with God. Everyone who under temptation looks to Christ the conqueror receives angels to press back the foe just as angels ministered to Christ, and those who rely on Him may receive strength to obey and serve rather than depending on other people for direction.
The verse reveals a compassionate Saviour full of love who longs to receive the weary and sin-sick and trembling, pities needy souls, gives courage to return, and invites intimate communion where sorrows and mistakes and troubles are brought to Him for relief and comfort and assurance. He longs to receive those who come with broken hearts and contrite spirits, and they can grasp His hand and find hope and courage. It assures the tempted and trembling that they need not fear seeking pardon, for God has made provision for human weakness and invites them to come to Christ. God is merciful and understands human weakness and temptation, and when people come with broken hearts and contrite spirits He accepts their repentance and promises peace as they rely on His strength. Those weary of sin are to be helped with words of hope and courage to grasp His hand.
God joins His strength to human weakness and His knowledge to ignorance, teaching those who live by His word, keeping them from stumbling, delivering from temptation, protecting those who claim His protection in penitence and faith, and keeping them by divine power as exemplified when divinity was clothed with humanity. The power to overcome Satan in his effort to obtain the mastery is with God, and man has strength only through Jesus Christ, by daily exercising faith and believing in His power to save to the uttermost all who come to Him, and those who do so make peace with God and are given power to become sons of God. Christ has power to help people overcome the enemy and gain victory, and His strength is effective help for the weak, enabling them to overcome and continue in the Christian life rather than be discouraged by their own insufficiency. God provides complete help so that Satan cannot overpower the person who walks humbly with God and trusts in Christ, and anyone who comes to Christ in penitence and faith and claims His protection will not be given over to Satan. Christ offers His strength to save a person in danger and calls him to take hold of it, and accepting His help brings him to peace with God and helps him stand against the enemy.
Peace and Pardon Given
Making peace is forgiveness and restoration by taking hold of divine strength. The Saviour receives those who come, forgives transgressions, cleanses and purifies, accepts and lifts up, while refusing to come or to acknowledge defects of character keeps help from being received. Those who have wandered are called to return with repentance and a whole heart, and when trials, adversity and disappointed hopes lead them back, He draws near, receives them with assurances of pardon, and gives peace. Even the one who has sinned and feels beyond help may come, confess, let transgression be removed, and be restored, for He is ready to restore all who turn. As His love draws the sinner to sorrow for sin and desire to turn from evil, strength from on high is given to help, and trusting that pardon is given brings peace. Those thus pardoned are transformed by grace into new, pure, holy children of light who walk in obedience and receive temporal and spiritual advantages.
Making peace also brings safety in peril and victory in the warfare against sin. Taking hold means remembering Christ at the side saying not to fear because He has overcome the world, uniting with Him as Prince of heaven in eternal warfare against the principles of sin, and becoming a worker together with God in that warfare rather than failing or betraying self and companions into the enemy's hands by influence. Reliance on His power enables holding firmly to Christian integrity and standing firm against sin amid continuing temptation. That connection gives power to resist temptation, deny self, keep vital union with Christ, and sow to the Spirit instead of leaning to self-indulgence and self-gratification where the warfare of flesh and Spirit would end in defeat to the Spirit. In this way believers become partakers with Christ of His sufferings in the path of self-denial from the manger to Calvary, and His strength delivers from temptation and upholds those who rely on Him.
Peace with God brings peace with others. Taking hold means joining together with others, cooperating with God and with the prayers offered, and helping fellow learners to cooperate with Him. As Daniel made peace with God and thereby made peace with one who knew not God, so making peace with God makes peace even with those who do not know Him. Through Christ's Spirit those at peace with God can then be at peace with fellow workers. Full consecration makes the heart a treasure-house of knowledge, and in surrender the heart takes hold of the strength of God's Spirit and is brought into God's keeping.
Peace is given with joy, cheerfulness, courage, hope and song. Taking hold in weakness and peril makes peace, and peace will surely follow, for God interposes Himself between the believer and difficulties that look formidable, with flame and flood behind Him. The result is lifting up the Man of Calvary with voice and song and a life-service of thanksgiving and praise, keeping cheerful and full of faith and courage and hope. Elijah illustrates this, a man subject to like passions whose strength was the Lord and whose earnest prayer was heard. The sin-sick soul is invited to lay hold by faith with assurance that peace will be given, Christ sharing His glorious power so that joy may be full, and this is to be held out to sufferers with words of comfort, hope, cheerfulness and soft singing of praises to help them trust and accept peace. Bringing sorrows, troubles, mistakes and errors to Jesus in intimate communion brings peace and comfort to the heart, with relief and assurance.
Getting right with God includes accurate reckoning and restitution for wrongs such as withheld and misused tithe. It means redeeming the past by making an accurate reckoning of tithe withheld and returning what was taken from His work, bringing a faithful tithe with a willing thank offering and peace offerings. It requires acknowledging the wrong done in misusing His goods with free and full repentance, and upon that repentance and restitution He forgives the transgression and blessing follows.
Taking hold means fastening to the promise, putting on the armor of light, keeping the eye of the mind single to the glory of God, and seeking wisdom and strength and grace from above, because no human power can be wisdom and righteousness and sanctification. That divine wisdom, strength, firmness and heroism enables standing in the way of holiness when Satan works through jealousy, flattery, deception, sophistry, smiles or frowns, entrapment, and unknown future obstacles and embarrassments to defeat God's purpose to make His people channels of light and to compass their destruction. It requires watching unto prayer.
Trial and Final Conflict
In the time of anguish, the time of Jacob's trouble and the time of trouble, the righteous cling to the promise to take hold of divine strength and make peace, pleading it day and night in crying for deliverance even when answers are delayed. Their faith persists because sins are repented, forgiven and no longer a ground for despair, with no concealed, unconfessed sin remaining, and they continue to intercede and lay hold until they prevail and are delivered by the divine voice. Their confidence rests on being at peace with God through true repentance, trusting for blessing as Jacob clung to the Angel.
Jacob's struggle illustrates the meaning, for helpless, penitent and persistent, he surrendered self and wrestled as with the Angel for blessing. The victory he could not win by his own strength came through self-surrender and steadfast faith, which Christ granted to the helpless soul's request.
From now until the close of this earth's history the call runs to every soul to take hold of Christ's strength and make peace by falling into line with God and falling into the hands of the living God, whose mercies are great, rather than falling into the hands of men. This is refuge from the fearful confederacy inaugurated by Satan in which unholy human agencies combine with demon forces imbued by satanic impulses, a vast confederacy of evil arrayed against God, against Christ, and against all who unite with the holy powers. Those who would be saved must rely by faith on Christ's might in closest communion, putting on Christ, keeping God's commandments in unity of one heart bound up with Christ and with one another and hid with Christ in God, resisting an encroaching world that would press in and separate from the source of strength. They fight in fellowship with all the children of light, not in their own human strength but armed with more than mortal energy by God, Christ and the Holy Spirit, with the angelic host coming as ministers into the battle, since Christ left heaven, His riches, command, honor and glory to save the world from death. This dependence alone carries through the closing scenes to victory, the unfading crown and crown of life, enabling them when challenged and in coming conflict, perplexity, trouble and deception to claim the experience of Jacob, the everlasting covenant of peace, and to be placed and multiplied as His people with His sanctuary in their midst forever, with Him as their God sanctifying them.
Ministers and workers must come nearer where by living faith they can take hold of strength and claim salvation and be strong, through self-examination, meditation and prayer rather than trusting in study, ability and pleasing discourses, so that devotion and true godliness give power and influence to preaching. They must grasp strength by faith before preaching and seek Christ until they know they are forgiven and accepted. Those who see light and truth yet lack the power the message requires and rest in sleepy indifference even on the borders of the eternal world must awake and take hold upon the Mighty One in this way, until the truth becomes a living reality, and then will follow missionary work, decided testimonies, a trumpet giving a certain sound in warnings, reproofs and entreaties, and earnest labor by all to save perishing souls.
Strength for Daily Life
The strength offered to be grasped gives power for self-control and victory over sin, over evil temper, selfishness and pride, and over intemperance and every sinful practice. It makes possible a self-directed life of Christ's righteousness, rising in moral value with God and becoming one with Christ in God. Genuine reform is possible only by divine power, awakening deadened moral sensibility to see need of a loving, sin-pardoning Saviour who as Creator and Redeemer and Restorer cooperates with man in personal restoration, while Satan is only the destroyer. Grasping that strength means faith cleaving through the dark shadow cast between soul and God to lay hold of glory beyond, refusing to be false to the Maker, refusing to make a god of the stomach, refusing to becloud the senses by overeating and to use stimulants and narcotics and forget God. It is done by daily eating the bread of life, making the Bible guide and counsellor by which the mind is strengthened and built up as the body is built up by food, so that through the blood of the Lamb the grasping ones become overcomers with glorious victory and do not disappoint Him who became poor that through His poverty they might be made rich.
The same grasp is for the sick, the hopeless and the afflicted to trust Christ as great Physician of soul and body and wonderful Healer, taking hold through faith and prayer for restoration. Many threatened with consumption can overcome the disease through faith in God as the mighty Healer. Consent to come under His saving influence, feeling need of Him and being purified by His blood, brings peace with Him. Physicians placed in trial, temptation and danger stand firm in allegiance only by that strength, and God becomes helper of every physician who works together with Him to restore suffering humanity by nature's remedies instead of drugs, giving success to those in partnership with Him and pointing sufferers to Christ alone.
In the home the promise means clinging to Jesus and His strength without losing hold when provoking trials, difficulties, obstacles, emergencies and opposing influence come in saving children and staying on the highway of holiness. It means walking in the light, looking constantly to Jesus, asking what to do in every emergency, refusing to storm or fret or scold, and receiving His help to use speech in a Christlike way that brings patience, comfort and love so peace and love reign in the home. Parents are to speak with God about responsibility to educate and train children to reverence, self-control, conversion and a religion revealing saving power, bringing blessing to home and church, and to work for their salvation with persevering effort and developing self-control. Children who so trust are fortified against surrounding vice and corruption, and the Lord guides their youth, while in molding and disciplining youth kindness is to be firm, living interest shown, youth held up in prayer, dependence on God made visible, and mercy and love and tenderness revealed, with angels and mighty power present so workers are not alone.
God's servants amid trials and perplexities are called to lay hold on divine strength with clean hands, pure heart and holy consecrated wholehearted endeavor, putting the whole heart into the work without flagging zeal. Such grasp brings settled peace, sight of salvation, and confidence, assurance and strength in the heart, enabling humble servants to undertake the most arduous and responsible service when required and to trust the work will go forward even when its way cannot be seen. They press forward to gain the triumphs of the cross, striving for a crown of immortality and a life measuring with the life of God, counting the cost and working together with God. They are to fasten hold on God as channels of light, depend on His power, rely on Him before going to speak words of life and labor for unbelievers, work with His Spirit to save the perishing, and teach the awakened from rich instruction of the Word how to take hold of the arm of the Lord, so good emotions and impressions become permanent good and sinners are drawn by love without amusement diverting serious conviction.
The promise sustains in financial perplexity, sickness, bereavement, discouragement, wounds and weakness, and is for all God's people and not a favored few. Making peace begins by taking hold of strength and seeking God as friend, whose care and approval make endeavors successful rather than outward prosperity alone. The worried are to bring God every perplexity and close financial battle in faith, trusting He understands all about the situation and will work in their behalf, and He is honored by such trust. They are to rest awhile, draw healing leaves from the tree of life, trust His sustaining power that He will not abandon or let them perish, and lay aside labor to recover health for His service.
Peace comes by taking hold of God's strength rather than the strength of any human being, minister, institution or headquarters, whether in South Africa or Battle Creek or elsewhere. God is just as accessible in every place, calling His people to grasp His power and efficiency directly, live at peace with Him, refuse to put men where God should be, and work the vein of truth deeper by personal trust. No minister or disciple is to take His place as conscience, sin-bearer or mediator, but all are to direct souls to God Himself for pardon and power in order to bring forth lasting fruit. Human help, strength and judgment are fallible and fail or betray, while Christ is the sure refuge and help for helpless souls tired of relying on people, receiving, strengthening and comforting those who bring Him their troubles, including one long under deceptive influence and false science invited to respond and find peace.
Taking hold brings light patiently given, and that light increases responsibility so that failure to use it leaves no excuse and calls for humble response without self-exaltation and personal answer for light received rather than hiding it. Christ reaches out to save and those responding rely on His firm help as He leads to safety, with trust rather than reliance on self, and with strength for overcoming evil and growing in holiness so peace is found even in discouragement. The appeal is to seek God's help personally and let others pray on one's behalf. That help gives guidance, growth in knowledge and character, stability like an anchored ship, freedom from confusion and impurity, and power to stand, serve and glorify God in every emergency, business vexation, temptation and duty.