The Presbyterian Of The South : [Combining The] Southwestern Presbyterian, Central Presbyterian, Southern Presbyterian

THE PRAYER MEETING

CHRIST THE CONSTANT COMPANION.

Week Beginning April 20, 1919.

Matt. 28:19-20; Gal. 2:20.

We have a very brief account of our Saviour's visit to Galilee after his resurrection. On the morning of his resurrection the message sent to the disciples by the angel at the tomb was that he would meet his disciples in Galilee, as he had said that he would do. It seems, however, that this meeting did not take place, at least until after the second Sabbath, as the disciples were all in Jerusalem on those two days. Just when this visit to Galilee was made we do not know, nor do we know the particular point where he met the disciples, nor are we given any reason for his meeting them there. All that we know of what transpired is that he there gave what we call the Great Commission. It was indeed a great commission. Great in the task it imposed and great in its importance. It is hard for us to realize just what it meant when those few humble men were told to go out and win the world for Christ. It would be an enormous task today with all the modern facilities for transportation and dissemination of knowledge through the printing press, by mail and otherwise.

In those days the world was almost unknown beyond the very limited area in which people lived. It was a great task to undertake to overthrow the long established heathen religion and put a new religion in its place, and yet that is just what Jesus told his disciples to do. One of the most difficult things to do is to persuade a man to change his religion. The heathen religions were all more or less material, while the Christian religion is spiritual.

Looked at from a human standpoint, it would have been absurd to have set such a task for the disciples, but we know that our Saviour knew the conditions far better than we know them or could possibly know them. He knew all of the difficulties, he knew the weakness of men, he knew all the opposition that would be raised, he knew how Satan would use his power to prevent the fulfilment of his commands, but he knew also what was needed to supply all deficiencies and to overcome all difficulties.

Sometimes in studying this commission we fail to begin at the right point. Our Saviour began by telling them how they could secure these resources. He said to them at the beginning, 'All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.' This is a simple statement of his divinity, which implies not only what might be termed physical power and mental power, but it also implies complete knowledge. This statement of his amounts practically to his saying to them, 'I know what I am telling you to do and I have the power that is necessary for its accomplishment.' He tells them then that they are to go and preach the gospel to every creature and 'teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.' For fear they might not realize that his power was at their command, he adds the wonderfully comforting assurance, 'Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.' It wasn't necessary for him to say to them that he would give them strength and help, that he would give them needed wisdom, or that he would protect them from harm and danger, and give them success in their undertaking. The simple fact that he would be with them would be all that they would need to assure them that he would give all the help that was necessary.

When we read that Enoch walked with God, we think of him as walking the road of life, with God as his traveling companion, and so we ought to feel about our Saviour. That he is with us always wherever we go he knows all of our conditions and circumstances, he is ready to give us the comfort of his presence and the help of his power.

If we could realize this fact, the burdens of life would not seem so heavy, for we can 'cast all our cares upon him who careth for us.' We would not be disturbed by the temptations of Satan, for we remember that he has said, 'My grace is sufficient for thee.' Nor would we be concerned about the work we have to do, for we can remember that he has said, 'As thy day so shall thy strength be.'

The apostle Paul felt the presence of the Saviour with him so completely that he speaks of Christ being within him. That which is in the heart controls the thoughts and acts of life, and so when we have Christ in our hearts, he controls our thoughts and acts. To have Christ with us as our traveling companion in life, we must make it our effort to go only where we feel that Christ would go himself, we must avoid the ways of sin and the paths of unrighteousness, we must walk in the paths of duty and those that lead to God. If we want Christ in our hearts we must keep our hearts free from sin and strive earnestly to keep them fixed upon God and that which is right in His sight.

As we go along the journey of life, let our efforts continually be to walk with Christ, to talk with him, to obey his commands and to have him in our hearts.