John Macduff Collection: MacDuff, John - The Christians Pathway (31 days): Day 24

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John Macduff Collection: MacDuff, John - The Christians Pathway (31 days): Day 24



TOPIC: MacDuff, John - The Christians Pathway (31 days) (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: Day 24

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24. Trusting in Christ

"That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ." Eph_1:12

Trusting in Christ is, in the most emphatic sense, one of "the things which accompany salvation." All who are strangers to it have no part or lot in those spiritual blessings which are in Him. How important is it, then, that we should have proper views of its nature; for to err in reference to such a subject cannot fail to affect our eternal safety.

Our trust in Christ, in order to be availing, must be exclusive. Of this many appear to be ignorant, or unmindful, for they think it necessary to mix up some supposed worthiness of their own with His finished work. But this will never do. Like the feet in Nebuchadnezzar's image, partly of iron and partly of clay—such diverse ingredients, possessing no property of coherence, cannot possibly stand. No, the word has gone forth and shall not return; the counsels of eternity have settled it, and every page of the inspired volume in the most explicit manner declares it—that "no one can lay any other foundation than the one we already have—Jesus Christ."

Let us see to it, then, as we value our soul's salvation, that Christ is our only trust. Merits of our own we have none. Of this the true believer is fully conscious, and hence his language is—

"Nothing in my hands I bring,

Simply to your cross I cling;

Naked, come to you for dress;

Helpless, look to you for grace;

Guilty, to the fountain fly;

Wash me, Savior, or I die!

Not the labor of my hands

Can fulfill your law's demands;

Could my zeal no respite know,

Could my tears forever flow,

All for sin could not atone;

You must save, and you alone!"

In the next place, our trust in Christ must be implicit. This feature may be illustrated by a familiar comparison. A physician is sent for, to visit a sick person, and after examining the case, he writes out a prescription. The patient, however, tells him that he will not take a single spoonful of the medicine unless he is informed of what it is composed, how the various ingredients are likely to act, and what effects they are intended to produce. If the explanations are satisfactory, and the course to be pursued meets his approbation, he promises to follow the advice given. The physician informs him that he is not accustomed to do anything of the kind, and that no reasonable man would expect it from him. "I always take it for granted," he says, "that I know what to prescribe for my patients better than they do themselves; and if you have no confidence in me, the sooner my visits are discontinued the better." Now such language commends itself at once as just and appropriate; for every person possessed of the least grain of common sense must acknowledge that to place implicit trust in his medical adviser, is one of the first duties which a patient owes to him. And that earthly physician's claim is demanded by Christ, the great Physician of souls. He requires of us to trust Him—to trust His skill, His wisdom, His power, His tenderness, His fidelity—and that with a full and unquestioning acquiescence. And what ample grounds have we for doing so!

We would further observe that our trust in Him should be continuous. An unspeakable importance belongs to what the apostle calls, "the beginning of our confidence;" but such an act must be again and again repeated. The Christian's life is throughout a life of faith; by whatever his pathway may be distinguished, this is one of its most prominent features. And as trust is either an essential element of faith, or its inseparable adjunct, it follows that it is to be exercised during the believer's whole career. Through life and in death his language should be, "Into your hands I commit my spirit, for you have redeemed me, O Lord God of truth."

Happy is the man who thus trusts in Him; he will not be ashamed nor confounded, world without end. Reader, may His happiness be yours; and rest not until you can say, "I know whom I have trusted, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."