Come Up Higher

But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests.
- Luke 14:10 -

When the life of grace first begins in the soul, we draw near to God.

But it is with fear and trembling.

We are conscious of our guilt, and we are humbled.

We take the lowest room.

As we grow in grace, we continue to have the holy awe.

We know that we are in the presence of God who can create and destroy.

But our fear has become a holy reverence, and no more an overshadowing dread.

We are called up higher.

We are called to greater access to God in Christ Jesus.

We approach the throne of grace, and see the God of love, goodness, and mercy.

We see in God more of His goodness than His greatness, more of His love than His majesty.

We are called to come up higher.

We draw near to God in holy confidence.

We call Him, "Abba, Father."

We go from strength to strength,

And we grow daily in grace,

Until we see Him face to face.

God's Ways

He stood and measured the earth;
He looked and startled the nations.
And the everlasting mountains were scattered,
The perpetual hills bowed.
His ways are everlasting.
- Habakkuk 3:6 -

What God has done at one time, He will do yet again.

Man's ways are variable, but God's ways are everlasting.

There are many reasons for this comforting truth.

(1) God's ways are the result of wise deliberation.

God orders all things.

Nothing happens that He doesn't know.

(2) God's ways are the outgrowth of His immutable character.

God's attributes are fixed and settle.

Unless God Himself can undergo change, His way must remain forever the same.

Is God eternally just, gracious, wise, tender?

Then His ways must ever be the same.

(3) There is nothing from without which could reverse the divine ways.

Nothing can stop God from marching forth for the salvation of His people.

(4) God's ways are the manifestation of the eternal principles of right, and therefore can never pass away.

The true and the good have about them a vitality which ages cannot diminish.

Let us go to our heavenly Father with confidence.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in Him the Lord is ever gracious to His people.