The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1917-03-29

{ ~ 8 believer te ,
- So. away his peace
and power. Decision expresses itself
In the ''if'' of action which deepens
the conviction and destroys the doubt
The "If" OF Doubt.
We are constantly tempted TO doubt
the Lords Word. When Peter was
told that what he thought was a spirit
upon the water that stormy night was
the Lord himself he said. III il be
thou" There is the hint of doubt
N that 'if" The doubt fingered and
took shape in Peters mind. Trans
lated il said TO Peter, did i hear
Alright? Is it really the Lord? Was
II, and Is il, the LOrdT The m
rose up and Peter went down. We
step out on the stormy water and the
irst steps are so brave and true when
suddenly the "if'' rises up, and doubt
of his word comes in, and we begin
to sink. Again we doubt his power.
The father of the denounced boy is
an illustration. He brought the boy
10 the Lord and said. IF thou canst do
anything" The poor man had IF" in
the wrong place. for he was told. IF
.hOu canst believe" As in Mark 10 81.
with God all things are possible"
Not ito" God all things are possible.
that goes without saying. but with"
God. This links man with God. The
machine is a dead. idle and helpless
thing until linked with the engine.
when IL becomes dynamic with com
municated power. IF thou canst dof"
'If thou canst believe" And we doubt
his willingness. The cry OF the leper.
If thou wilt" Is stu being heard.
We are constantly doubling his will
mEness because Of our condition. Con-
stantly forgetting that "He that
syared not his own son. but delivered
him up for Us all will. with him, also
freely give US all things" We hear
Of him healing the deaf. making the
lame TO walk, yea. even raising the
lead but when IL comes to our own
raSe we get our eyes filed with our
desperate condition and forget his
goodness and grace. Others may be
blessed, our friends may be helped.
we may have his word. we may know
his power. but because OF our condi-
ton we are tempted 20 doubt. saying.
IF thou wilt"
Again. we doubt his providences.
When the Lord by Elisha had prom
Ised In the midst OF famine TO make
hour cheaper than the refuse of the
street. one high in authority sarcas-
tically asked: ''If the Lord would
make windows I'm heaven. might this
thing bef" II was such new. I'M
heard-of thing-so sudden. Is it pos
sible he would make the. grain 20 grow
in a night? The "1f' of rationalism
comes In and casts doubt on the prom
lse Of God. He has promised that all
our needs will be supplied. but because
we DO not see how he can do IL we
admit the doubt and find ourselves on
dangerous ground. losing our peace
and missing the blessing.
Once more we doubt his presence.
We are told ne will never leave us
nor forsake us. but in spite of that.
when circumstances which hurt and
distress surround us. we are tempted
like Gideon of old TO say. IF the
Lord be with us why then is AL this
befallen us?" He knows all the why
Of our circumstances.
The "if'' Of Faith.
In Romans S:31 is written "What
shall we say then TO these thingsf
If God be for us. who can be against
us?" The very next verse tells how
we may know that God is for us. s'He
that spared not his own Son. hut de-
livered him up for us ALL how shall he
not with him also freely give us AL
things?" II he gave the gresser ne
will give the less. If he gave his Son
would he not give all things? III he
has given Christ ne will withhold no
good things. How this sif'' should
awaken our faith in his word. his
willingness, his power, etc.
The "If" Of Decision.
This is found in Elijah's exhortation
TO Israel, IF the Lord be God follow
him, but If Baal followed him. Is
raei must make a decision between
them We. too. must decide between
Satan's 'if" of doubt and the Lords
If of faith We have a glimpse of
what 1t means in the Apostle Paul. He
counted the cost. faced the toll and
hardship saw the dark road ahead of
him. but loored also at the presence
and power of the Lord. and. assuring
his heart that God was with him and
for him. made the decision. MAY II
be ours to meet the IF" Of decision
and say:
Then into his hand went mine
And into my heart wepr he
And walked - 2 Night <1iv1nn
1ne path whsro 1alru1 - -