"Uphold me with your Spirit. Then will I teach
transgressors your ways; and sinners shall be converted unto you" Psalm 51:12-13.
Why should we
expect peace without seeking God? We would not think of harvesting before
plowing and sowing. If we were like Israel in the wilderness, where the
opportunities were taken away, and if we strove against pride and laziness,
then I would not be surprised to see comforts falling on the soul as thick as
manna around Hebrew tents. But God no longer rained bread once Israelites grew
corn to make their own bread. Neither will the Lord comfort by a miracle when
the soul may obtain it through the ordinances: worship, preaching, the Lord's
Supper, and so on. God certainly could have taught the eunuch Himself and satisfied
him with a light from heaven. Instead, He sent for Philip to preach the word,
no doubt to honor the ministry of His Gospel.
Gospel peace
strengthens and restores the Christian. This peace makes the Christian strong
enough to fight against sin and Satan. The saint is revived when he tastes only
a little of this honey, but what a slaughter he makes of his spiritual enemies
when he has had a full meal! He can go into battle like a giant refreshed with
wine-- no one can stand before him.
Peace also strengthens the Christian work. Paul,
for instance, remembered God's mercy and the awareness of His love glowed in
his heart until it infused him with a zeal for the Gospel above his fellows.
This same kind of peace made David pray hard to drink again of this wine, which
had been locked up from him for so long. "Restore unto me the joy of your
salvation; and uphold me with your free Spirit. Then will I teach transgressors
your ways; and sinners shall be converted unto you" Psalm 51:12-13. His
fervent longing for the sweet taste of this wine was not the main reason he
asked for peace-- he desired power to do God's work.”
Quoted material from, ”The Christian in Complete
Armour Daily Readings in Spiritual Warfare” by Gurnall and James S Bell.
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