January 27

God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. - 1 Corinthians 1:27.

HERE we see the weakness of human instrumentality and the efficiency of divine agency. If we go back to the beginning of Christianity, we shall find the greatest work accomplished with means and instrumentality the most inadequate to the purpose. What a work, to set up the kingdom of God in a world lying in wickedness, to establish the gospel dispensation, and to extend it in the face of a world in arms against it. Its doctrines seemed unaccountable to human reason; its motives being Spiritual were opposed to the carnal mind; its duties required the destruction of every evil passion, and the profession of it was sure to expose a man to reproaches, losses, exile, imprisonment and death. It had to overcome the edicts of emperors, the persecution of magistrates, the subtlety of philosophers, the craftiness and covetousness of priests, and the profligacy of the common people. His design has ever been to subdue all nations to the obedience of the faith. He therefore commanded his Apostles to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

And who were they? They were not fetched from the schools of Greece or Rome, but from the lake of Galilee, without power to compel, or riches to bribe, or learning to perplex, or eloquence to persuade, yet “the word of the Lord grew and multiplied” so that the gospel soon reached the boundaries of the unwieldy Roman empire. “The faith of the gospel has come unto you,” says the Apostle to the Colossians, “as it is in all the world, and bringeth forth fruit as it doth also in you.” It is the Lord’s doing and is marvellous in our eyes. Other agents would gain admiration by the excellency and competency of the means and instruments they employ. His praise springs from their weakness and unfitness.

The barley cake of Gideon, the blowing of the priest’s ram’s-horns at the destruction of Jericho, the sling and stone of David, all teach the same truth, as the Apostle states, “We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power might be of God, and not of us.” So, when the nations of Europe were to be reformed from popery, Luther, a poor monk, and not the head of the catholic church, was to be converted and employed for the purpose. And if the Scriptures are to be translated into the various languages of the East, God does not call for a first-rate scholar from the university, but takes a Carey from the humble craft of shoe-making. So it is often found now as to personal experience.

One man goes into a place of worship from mere curiosity and is converted; another takes up a tract and reads it and is pricked in his heart. An accident befalls another and he reflects; a dream terrifies another, and he prays. The most likely means are nothing, unaccompanied by the energy of God, and the most unlikely means are available when he is pleased to employ them.

Thus ministers shall not labour in vain, nor shall the humblest effort be in vain, but shall produce “all the good pleasure of his goodness.”