Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 158, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 July 1916 — DOING GOD’S WORK [ARTICLE]

DOING GOD’S WORK

Advancement of the Master*! Kingdom Consists of Helping With What One Has. If one makes a study of the miracle* that Jesus performed while in the world, he will find that there are two distinct sides to them—the human and the divine. He will also find that almost without exception, the divine work was dependent upon the human, and that one could not do a successful work without the active co-opera-tion of the other. When Jesus performed the miracle of turning water into wine, he commanded his followers to fill the Jugs with water and he converted it Into wine; Lazarus was raised to life only after human hands had rolled the stone away from the sepulcher and the multitudes were fed because the disciples were ready to work hand in hand with their Lord. This does not mean 'that Jesus was not able to do mighty and wonderful works and perform miracles by his own power; rather it proves to us that he chose to have human agency in active service with the divine in saving a lost world. Jesus had the power to change the water into wine, to roll away the stone from the sepulcher, and to feed the multitudes without any help, but he chose the disciples that they might have a part in that great work.

The text was given on a miracle occasion and it contained that same cooperation of the human with the divine as the other miracles we have mentioned. Jesus and his disciples were in a desert place and a great multitude of people had followed them out of th 3 cities and villages. There was nothing for such a mass of humanity to eat and they were fainting and falling by the wayside. The disciples came to Jesus and asked him to send the multitude away that they may get something to eat. But' Jesus commanded them “they need not depart, give ye them to eat.” They pleaded that their supply was not sufficient for the demand and Jesus said to them, "bring what ye have to me.” And the master took what the disciples had, and through them, fed the great multitude that was in need. No one can read this passage of Scripture without being impressed with the need of bread to sustain physical life.

Realized the Great Need. The disciples saw the need of the multitude and it caused them to want to do something to meet the need. This is always true. When we see one in trouble, if we are normal, we want to do something to help relieve that trouble. But when the discipleß began to see the great need and to realize the smallness of their supply, they were overwhelmed. Jesus had asked them to feed the multitude but what could they do with five loaves and two fishes when several thousand people were to be fed. They realized that their supply was not sufficient for the demand. And that is the condition that we must come to before we can be of much service to our Lord. We have depended upon ourselves too much already. With all our great organization and equipment and with a wonderfully fitted and talented people, we have come to think that we can do the work ourselves, and have often gone forth independent of the Lord. But our failures are an open book and we have been surprised and disappointed. We must come to realise that we can “do all things through Christ” and that without him we are failures in his work. “Bring What You Have.” When we come to see the need before us and then to realize our inability to meet the need by ourßelves, it is not a time for discouragement, for it’s just here that the master will come upon the scene. He will take what we have and by his power increase the supply until the need is met. Jesus said to the disciples “bring what you have.” Oh, that’s what the Lord wants us to do. He wants us to bring what we have and are to him that he may use us for the advancement of his kingdom. It doesn’t make much difference about how many talents we have or the gifts that we may possess. The Lord simply wants what we have. A great many people are continually pleading for more talents or gifts and saying this fellow or that they would do wonderful things. I am convinced more and more that it is not a need of more talents and gifts but a more thorough consecration of what we already have in order to do the master’s work as he would have it done. We have enough talents and gifts in the church to take this great section of the country for Jesus Christ and then have a great deal to spare. Look at the results of this miracle. Because the disciples brought their little meager supply and let Jesus use it with themselves, the great multitude was fed and there was left over 12 baskets full. The disciples were not able to do the work of themselves, but in active co-operation with the master they could accomplish the seemingly impossible But this is just as God’s word says it shall be. It sets forth the impossible tasks as in easy reach of the one who is wholly committed to God. One shall chase a thousand and two shall put ten thousand to flight. There are no forces in the world but that they can be brought Into subjection and used for the advancement of the master’s kingdom.—* Rev. H. K. Morehead.