1115. An Accepted Invitation

An Accepted Invitation

"And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go" (2Ki_6:3).

Where is he who wishes to go out alone? Was it not proper, was it not even propitious to invite Elisha to go with them as they went to their task?

Has not Christ said: "Apart from Me ye can do nothing"? Even more graciously has He said: "Go, and lo, I am with you."

Illustration: We were riding on a train in Southern Georgia, hastening toward Valdosta, where we were about to launch an evangelistic campaign. We were, in those days, but a youth, and we were overwhelmed with our own weakness (a weakness we even more deeply appreciate in our maturer years). We did a foolish thing, but with an honest yearning. We closed our eyes and, asking God to give us a verse of Scripture that would help us on our way, we ran our fingers into our Bible, held tight a passage, and then opened our eyes to see what the Lord might say to us. God answered us, in spite of our foolishness. We read the verse we had so tightly pressed. The words ran thus: "And Jesus went with him."

Let us rejoice for the Lord our God will hold our right hand, saying unto us, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of My righteousness" (Isa_41:10).

Let us gather up a few of His promises to go with us in our way and in our work.

"The Lord thy God is with thee, whithersoever thou goest" (Jos_1:9).

"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee" (Isa_43:2).

"For Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me" (Psa_23:4).

What more can we wish? If the Lord be with us, and for us, we must prevail.

"Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go;

Anywhere He leads me in this world of woe;

Anywhere with Jesus, I am not afraid;

Anywhere with Jesus, is a house of praise."

Just one little word of warning. Let us not think that the promise of our Lord to go with us, means that He, by any means, will go with us out of His will! or, go with us, when He is neither sought nor desired. The young prophet said, "Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants."

There was a time when Christ walked with two disciples as they journeyed toward Emmaus. As they neared the city the Lord made as though He would go farther. Then they constrained Him and urged Him and He turned and went with them. All the subsequent joy and blessing they experienced that night would have been lost had they not pressed the invitation upon their Lord. We must make room for Christ, we must prepare for His journeying with us, we must seek His presence and His favor. Otherwise we must walk alone.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR