He Will Speedily Come to Aid

by Leah S. Carpenter

Read Luke 18:1-8

Jesus taught in this parable that we “ought always to pray and not to faint”. He continued to comment that we may cry day and night and he bear long with us, yet he will avenge us speedily. Is not this an example of man’s timetable versus God’s timetable? Faint not, praying child: continue in faith. By your timetable Jesus may be four days late, as when Lazarus died, but God—our sovereign King of kings, Lord of lords, Creator of the universe—works speedily on our behalf. And he is always exactly on time! Never a split second early, never a split second late. God may be bearing long with you to perfect and try your faith; when he comes to speedily avenge you, will he find faith in your heart? Pray on. Faint not. Believe the promise he gave you here. And remember, though the time seems long to you, God is speedily coming to your aid.

What I Will With My Own

by Leah S. Carpenter

“Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own?” Mt. 20:15a

What a question for the Master to have to ask! And yet, the sweetness that is there for God’s child. He will do what he chooses with his own. How many times in the valley, in the desert, in the wilderness, have I questioned what the Master is doing. “Why did you send this trial?” “Why did you refuse this blessing?” “Why did you place me here?” “Why did you allow this?” As his child, I may relax and trust in him, that all things will work to my good, for he may do what will with me. Is it not his very Lordship that I question? I am his subject; he may demand all and give nothing. But the same infinite love which chose me for his own will also rule what he does with me. What need have I to fear? “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Gen. 18:25c)

“What I will”; such power is in those words! The authority gives place for no other authority, shares none of its right with another. I have no authority to will on my own. I have only the right to will my Master’s will. But that awesome authority is sweetened by the precious possessiveness of the last two words: “mine own”. We care for our own; we nurture, protect and defend our own. If we then, being earthly, care for our own, how much more will our Heavenly Father care for his own?

“Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own?” Let us, from the heart, bow our heads in submission and say “Yea Lord, Do with me as thou wilt.” “I delight to do thy will, O my God.” (Ps. 40:8a) What payment do we not owe to him who, “having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them to the end.”(Jn. 13:1)?