THE Apostle Paul in writing to the Hebrews says, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need,” and the fact that “grace to help in time of need” is to be found at a “throne of grace” has encouraged many a poor child of God who was brought to the verge of despair by what he met with in the world. God’s true people have learned so much of the high standard which God is setting before them in His Word, and of their own natural depravity, that they are painfully conscious that their “time of need” is with them continually. The Christian has been likened to a man walking between two rows of fire and a bag of gunpowder on his back, because of the effects, on his natural corruptions, of Satan’s temptations and the allurements of the world. Satan knows very well how to tempt the poor fallen children of Adam and will suit his temptations to the peculiar bent of their nature. He knows the most vulnerable points and will direct his deadliest weapons towards them. Again God’s people are in daily contact with men of the world who have no sympathy towards Christ and his people, and who are ever ready to take advantage of the weakness, and magnify the failings of the child of God, and consequently the Christian can expect to meet with many a thing that will cause him to fret. It is under such conditions that his own corruptions will be whispering that it is just for him to be angry and take revenge.
The rule of Scripture under such trying circumstances is, “Let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ,” and “be ye holy in all manner of conversation,” and this requires obedience to the Scriptural injunction, “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” This does not mean a mere outward studying of an adversary’s character in order to cleverly parry his persecuting thrust, but an inward frame of mind becoming the gospel, towards a fellow-creature. This requires that grace would be daily and hourly in living exercise in the soul and that cannot be, apart from a continual coming to a “throne of grace.”
Further, there is need of grace to combat our natural slothfulness in performing duties. However active we may be in duties connected with our worldly calling, we are sluggards as far as our duty towards God and our own souls is concerned. When an opportunity presents itself of worshipping God in secret, how often our attitude may be summed up in the words, “Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep.” The most trifling excuses will keep us from these duties which if rightly performed would be so beneficial to our souls. A needy soul requires grace to make him conscious of his needs and send him to a throne of grace with the cry, “Quicken thou me according to thy word,” which is a prayer for more grace.
There is also the need of special grace for special circumstances. While tribulation is the ordinary lot of the Christian as long as he is in this world, yet, in his life there are often trials which stand up as the mountains rise above ordinary hills. There is much need of grace to meet with these heavy trials and it is wonderful to see its effect, where it is in exercise under these conditions. There is to be found a quiet submission to the will of the Lord, and an acknowledgment of the justice of God in sending the trial. “I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because thou didst it.” Very often in passing through these trials one gets a clearer view of what sin deserves, and in proportion to it a clearer view of the justice of God in punishing sin. Such a deportment under heavy trials can only be the result of special grace to meet the special need.
Grace will not only cause the child of God to submit to the trial but it will cause him to search for the particular cause for which the trial was sent, and God’s purpose in sending it. He well realises that sin is the general cause but knows that particular sins are visited with special chastisements, but in his endeavour to discover the particular cause he does not rely on his own efforts. He commits this weighty matter to God. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” When the particular reason is discovered grace is sought and given, to exalt God for sending the trial, and to hate the ways of sin. There is also a realisation of the fact that the trial is not so heavy as it might have been nor as heavy as sin deserved. “He hath not dealt with us after our sin, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.” Together with this, grace will make the child of God acknowledge the blessings of trials. “Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.”
Grace for performing special and weighty duties is another of the needs of the child of God. For instance the preacher of the Gospel is exhorted to “be instant in season, and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and doctrine.” In obeying this exhortation one needs grace to keep oneself out of sight altogether, and to keep Christ before the hearers, and make much of Him. This is a crucifying of the flesh and therefore grace is greatly needed in order to accomplish it. In making much of Christ one has to make much of the death which He endured—a shameful and cursed death. It is contrary to human nature to hold forth as a Saviour one who in His life was reviled and in His death was “numbered with the transgressors,” but grace can do it and enable the true child of God to say with the Apostle, “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Where one is conscious of his need of grace in facing solemn and holy duties there is a continual casting of oneself in much weakness upon Him who has said, “My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” The more weakness that is felt by the creature the more grace that is given out of the inexhaustible fulness that is in Christ, and the more glory God shall have.
Man’s need of grace is great when he comes to die. Job says, “I know that thou wilt bring me to death, and to the house appointed for all living.” Whether or not we feel the certainty of approaching death which Job felt, it is a sure thing that we shall die, and equally sure that we need grace to die. When a Christian comes to die there are many things that give him concern, and in the light of which there is much need of grace. It is difficult for him to part with those who were dependent upon him and leave them helpless in the world, and in view of that parting many a prayer goes up to the God of all grace. It is only grace from Him that will enable the child of God to go comfortably out of time leaning upon that word which says, “Leave thy fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; and let thy widows trust in me.”
The Cause of Christ is a concern for the dying believer, for with Paul upon whom “the care of all the churches” had fallen, he is “in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better.” That “desire to depart” needs the exercise of grace in order to wait patiently the Lord’s time, and when He tarries, to say, “Thy will be done.” Grace is required to look forward to death as that which is robbed of its sting, and wait calmly for the final blow which will separate soul and body and cause the soul to experience eternal realities. The needs of God’s people in this world are both great and numerous but the God of all grace shall supply their needs out of His fulness of grace until they are made perfectly holy and then He shall supply them out of His fulness of glory, for “the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.” This will cause those who trust in Him to praise Him for ever and ever.—J. C.
Let those tremble whom danger finds out of the way of duty.
—John Flavel.