GAP International Ministries

07/13/2023

External Rites

"Even now the axe lies at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn't bring forth good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. - Matthew 3:10

The picture is very suggestive. The axe lying at the tree's root, or raised in the woodman's hand to strike, shows that judgment impends, hangs ready to fall. Any moment the tree may be cut down. The axe lying at the tree's root unused tells of patience in the husbandman; he is waiting to see if the fruitless tree will yet bear fruit, The axe leaning quietly against the tree is very suggestive, The meaning is very plain. God waits long for impenitent sinners to return to him; he is slow to punish or to cut off the day of opportunity; he desires all to repent and be saved. Yet we must not trifle with the Divine patience and forbearance. We must remember that while the axe is not lifted to strike, still there is not a moment when it is not lying close, ready to be used; when the summons may not come, “Hasten to judgment.” The axe of death really lies all the while at the root of every life. There is not a moment when it is not true that there is but a step between us and death.

The lying of the axe at the root suggests that its use is not pruning but cutting down. God has two axes. One he uses in pruning his trees, removing the fruitless branches, and cleansing the fruitful branches that they may bring forth more fruit. The work of this axe is not judgment or destruction, but mercy and blessing. It is the good, the fruitful tree that feels its keen edge. Then God has another axe which he uses only in judgment, in cutting down those trees which after all his culture of them bring forth no fruit. Life is all very critical. There is not a moment in any day on which may not turn all the destinies of eternity. It certainly is an infinitely perilous thing for an immortal soul to rest an hour with the axe of judgment waiting to strike the blow that will end forever the day of mercy. Only supremist folly can be blind to duty in such a case.

07/12/2023

07/11/2023

Our Every-Day Life

He answered them, "He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none. He who has food, let him do likewise." - Luke 3:11

In John's several answers to the different inquiries made of him we see that religion is not something entirely apart from our every-day life. He did not tell these men to fast for a week, or to leave their business and retire to a monastery, or to enter upon a long course of devotions. Nothing of the kind. They were to begin an once to live according to God's commandments in their own particular calling, to do their every-day work religiously. The “people” were to begin to practice the law of love, thus giving up their greed and selfishness. The “publicans” were to cease to practice extortion, and begin to deal honestly and justly with all men. The “soldiers” were to refrain from all acts of violence. He did not tell them to give up their calling, but to do their duty as good and true men in their calling, to carry the principles of true religion into all their actions.

It is well for us to catch this lesson. A good many people think that being a Christian is to pray a few moments morning and evening, to read a daily chapter or two in the Bible, and to attend church on the Sabath. These duties are important as means of grace, but they are not religion. Religion is living out the principles of Christianity in one's ordinary week-day life. It is getting the Bible and the prayers and the services into thought and act and character. We must not cut our lives in two and call one part secular, governing it by one set of principles, and regarding the other part as sacred, to be controlled by another set of rules. All life is to be made religious in the sense that everything is to be done in such a way as to please God, under the direction of His counsel. We have just as much religion as we get into our week-day life, and not a whit more. Whatever we do, even to eating and drinking, we should do in the name of the Lord Jesus.

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

07/09/2023

Looking Unto Jesus

for my eyes have seen your salvation, - Luke 2:30

Travelers come home from abroad, and tell of the wonderful sights they have seen. They have stood among the mighty Alps, and been awed by their grandeur. They have walked on the streets of famous cities. They have visited the old cathedrals. They have stood enraptured before the pictures of the old masters. And they speak with pride of what they have seen.

Yet it is a far greater thing to be able to say, “I have seen Jesus.” The sight of earth's beautiful and wonderful things may have a refining and inspiring influence upon one's mind, may add to one's intelligence and broaden one's experience. But seeing Jesus changes one's whole life and destiny. It makes one an heir of heaven and glory; it transforms one into the likeness of Christ Himself. He that sees Jesus is saved.

Some writer says: “Never lose an opportunity to look on a beautiful thing, for it will leave a touch of new beauty in your own soul.” We may say: “Lose not the opportunity to look upon Jesus, for it will print glory in your soul.” St. Paul tells us that by beholding the glory of Christ as it lies in the mirror of the Scriptures, we are changed into the same image.

The old monks had a superstitious notion that if they would gaze continuously and intensely on the figure of the Christ on His cross which hung upon their cell wall, the marks of the wounds would appear in them, the print of the nails in their hands and feet, and the scar of the spear-gash in their side. This is but a gross representation of the spiritual truth which lies under it, that beholding Christ produces the real “mark of the Lord Jesus” in our souls. Looking upon Him with steady, loving gaze, the glorious vision that our eyes behold prints itself deep in our hearts, and the “beauty of the Lord” shines out in our dull faces.

07/07/2023

Secret Discipleship

The same came to him by night, and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him." - John 3:2

It was better to come by night than not to come at all, though we usually think that it showed timidity on the part of Nicodemus. We must remember, however, that Jesus did not rebuke him, nor did He refuse to accept even his secret discipleship. He seems to have received him with loving welcome, and to have taught him in the quiet way Nicodemus chose to come.

We must remember, too that the times then were not as they are now. Christ had not yet died, nor had the Christian Church been established. Certainly, secret discipleship is not justifiable now, whatever excuse Nicodemus may have had for it in his time. We know too that it was not satisfactory even in his case. We know that the time came when he could no longer remain a secret friend. When Jesus was dead on His cross, and when His body, as that of a crucified malefactor, was about to be buried in dishonor among criminals, it is remarkable that the two men who came forward and rescued it from such ignominy and gave it honorable sepulcher, had both until that day been secret disciples. The death of Christ so touched their hearts and aroused their timid, hesitating love, that they could no longer continue secret disciples. The true love of their hearts could not be repressed, and they came forward and risked and dared all for Him whom they had never before had courage openly to confess.

Secret discipleship is not satisfactory. It does not get the hearty approval of one's own conscience. It does not bring full rich peace to the heart. It yields but a crippled and hampered Christian life at the best. If we love Christ, we should come out boldly and confess Him at a time when our confession will honor Him and bring blessing to ourselves. We have a glorious promise that those who confess Him here, He will confess at the day of judgment before angels and men.

07/05/2023

Strength Bestowed

"I tell you, arise, take up your mat, and go to your house." - Mark 2:11

That was surely a very strange command to give to a paralyzed man. He could not rise up. He could not lift up his bed. He could not walk a step. He was as helpless as a co**se. Why did Jesus require of him such an impossibility? But as we look on the helpless form, we see that it at once starts up. The limbs move, the man rises, takes up his bed, and walks away in the presence of all the people. As we watch him going his way, we learn that when Christ gives any command which seems impossible, He always gives strength to perform it. As the man's will began to obey Christ's bidding, power came back into his long-paralyzed body, and he was able to rise up and walk.

It is the same in spiritual life. We have no power in ourselves to do Christ's will, but as we begin to obey the needed grace is given. Young people often say that they are afraid to enter upon a Christian life because they cannot do what will be required. In their own strength they cannot. It would be as easy for them to climb to the stars as unaided to live a noble and lovely Christian life. Human strength in itself is inadequate to life's sore needs. But the young Christian who sets out in obedience to Christ, depending upon Him to open the path of duty, will never fail of needed help at the moment of need.

Older Christians also often shrink from duties because they have not the ability to perform them; but for them, and for all who attempt any work or service in obedience to Christ, it is true that the effort to obey will always bring with it the strength to obey.

We should notice too that the strength will not come until we try to obey. If we will not attempt to do our duty, we shall remain forever poor paralytics; but as we put forth the exertion the life will flow into our souls, and we shall be strong.

07/03/2023

Even So Send I You

The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I'm coming, another steps down before me." - John 5:7

Are there not many unsaved people in every community who might also say, “I have no man to bring me to Christ”? There are many lost souls for whom no one is caring. It may be answered that the gospel is offered to all, that all could come if they would. Yet Christians must not forget that the unsaved can receive grace only through the saved; that those who are forgiven must carry the news of mercy to the unforgiven. The redemption is divine, none but Jesus can save; but the priesthood is human. God's ordinary way of finding sinners and bringing them to the Savior is through the love and pleading of other saved ones. Christ's commission ran: “As the Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” We are to do for the unsaved just what Christ did when He was here, what He would do now if He were living just where we live, among them, go to them and ask them if they will be made whole.

It is the same in spiritual life. We have no power in ourselves to do Christ's will, but as we begin to obey the needed grace is given. Young people often say that they are afraid to enter upon a Christian life because they can not do what will be required. In their own strength they cannot. It would be as easy for them to climb to the stars as unaided to live a noble and lovely Christian life. Human strength in itself is inadequate to life's sore needs. But the young Christian who sets out in obedience to Christ, depending upon Him to open the path of duty, will never fail of needed help at the moment of need.

Are there not lost ones about us who can say at God's judgment-bar, “The Christians about me would not lead me to the fountain, never even asked me to come to it for cleansing” ? This man waiting at the fountain's edge is a type of many about us, close to the healing waters, with hungry, unsatisfied hearts, needing but the help of a human hand to lead them to the Savior, yet never getting that help or that sympathy, and sitting there year after year unsaved. Surely we should not allow any unsaved ones about us to perish without trying in every way to lead them to the cleansing, healing waters.

What evidence have we that we are saved ourselves if we are not interested in the salvation of other lost ones? Let us look about us and see if any of our neighbors could say what this poor man at Bethesda said. Then let us go quickly and lead them to the Savior.