The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1902-10-17

InaU GOQS S VIII was not IN accord
with their preconceived notions
Submission does not leave room for
discussion or argument. One cannot
gain the presence of God on the pre-
text of submitting to His will, and
then enter into an argument in an
effort to win the Almighty over to
his way of thinking. Submission to
God is not the AYE, aye, sir" of
the son of the parable whose ia
ther requested him to go and work
in the vineyard but who went not,
bTS it is exemplified by the son who
ut first rebelled against the fathers
will and refused to go, but who aft
erwards repented and went.
But standing with God means more
than submission, it means confidence,
and perhaps we ought to place it first.
Confidence, not in self, not in ones
wisdom or abilities, or power, but con-
tidence in God. On the face of it this
seems like an unnecessary state
ment. One might ask, who has not
confidence in God? And on the other
hand, in the light of actual fact, how
many really have confidence in God?
In the world to-day there is very lit
tie confidence shown in God. Man
would rather trust man than God;
would rather rely in his own plans,
and his own ability to carry out those
plans, than rely on God. The test of
how much confidence man has in God
is found in mans readiness to obey the
word of God. My friend says to me:
81 would not invest my money in that
enterprise, if 1 were you" And he
then goes on to tell why he thinks it
will be unwise and unsafe. The amount
of confidence I have in my friend is
proven by the closeness with which l
follow his advice. The amount of con-
idence I have in God is shown in the
same way. If God speaks and l heed
not His voice, surely my confidence is
not in Him. Gods Word declares:
Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust
also in Him, and He shall bring it to
pass. Fret not thyself because
of him who prospereth in his way, be-
cause of the man who bringeth wicked
devices to pass. Cease from anger, and
forsake wrath; fret not thyself in any
wise to do evil. For evil doers shall
be cut off; but those that wait upon
the Lord, they shall inherit the
earth"
Here is but one declaration from
Gods Word, which abounds and over
flows with assurances to those who
will trust in God. If I really have con-
fdence in God I will take Him at His
word and commit all my ways into His
Aand and wait the time when He shall
bring all my desires to pass. There is
not labor dispute. there is not busi-
ness difficulty. a domestic trouble, a
hardship endured, which if committed
unto the Lord would not speedily find
IL solution and adjustment along the
line of Gods will.
In the passage from the Psalms
quoted above. we have set forth our
thought of submission to God. in Com
nit thy way unto the Lord" In the
trust also in Him" we have the
thought of confidence, and in the
1eclarat ton which follows we are told
Of the certainty with which God acts.
land He shall bring it to pass" And
while one is waiting, the Psalmist gives
some wholesome advice. Don't fret
because the wicked seem to prosper
Don't become angry because of in
Justice suffered. DO not do a wrong
because a wrong has been done you.
Scripture abounds with illustrations
Of the practical working out of this
passage from the Word of God. We
nave time to refer TO but one David,
who wrote the words, lived them out
in his life in wonderful way and
lemon trated the truth Of every
declaration of God. While a mere boy
Gods prophet had anointed him king
over Israel. He committed his ways
unto the Lord, he trusted in Him, and
he Lord brought it to pass in His own
rood time After his great victory
over Goliath, and he had become Il resi-
he daughter of the king to wife. per-
laps he thought he was soon to realize
he promise of God. But instead of
crown he was forced to endure hard
ship and persecution; instead of the
luxury and ease of kingly authority
le was forced to eat the bread of af-
1iction for many years, and all for no
wrong doing of his own. We do not |
near David complaining or doubling |
Iod.. We do not see him losing his con-
idence in Him and refusing to stand |
onger with God. Saul for a time pros |
1ers in his wicked way, but we do not |
rear David chiding the Lord, he knows !
t will not always be so. As Saul !
hrusts wrong after wrong upon Da- |
id and chases him from one end of the |
and to the other, we do not see him |
osing his temper and in wild rage !
rying to deliver himself from his tor
mentor. Twice did Saul fall into the |
lands of David, twice did he have it |
within his power to deal death blow |
O the implacable enemy who sought |
lis life. but David was not willing to |
10 a wrong because wrong was done |
i'm, and twice he forbore having re- |
curse to sword and spear in order to |
tep from the life of fugitive to that |
# king. choosing rather to let God |
york it out for him in His own good |
ime. And verify it came to pass as
iod had spoken. and David ruled glo
iously over all Israel, and the blood
# a Saul did not rest upon his hands
O disturb his waking and sleeping
noments. 1t pays TO commit ones
vavs unto the Lord. to trust in Him,
or verify He will bring it to pass.
There is but one complete and sat
sfactory remedy for labor difficulties
nd the trust evil. 1t is found along
he line of Gods will. Mans will may
heck and in a measure alleviate the
Wis suffered. but complete emancipa-
ion can only come as men are willing
o act as they pray and stand with God
i bringing TO pass His will on earth
s His viii is done in Heaven.
The Will of Goo.-In Heaven il is su.