God will not help in any foolish plans.
He wants no St. Peter's built in a village of six hundred people, no
temple, except on a Moriah to which a whole nation goes up. Due
proportion is a law of all his creations. The disciples planned not
only to begin at Jerusalem, but to stay there. Their plans were wrong,
and they had to be driven out by persecutions and martyrdoms (Acts
viii, 4). But Africa, Europe, and Asia eagerly received the light
which Jerusalem resisted. Some ministers to-day stay by their fine
Jerusalems when the kitchens of the surrounding country wait to welcome
them. The Spirit suffered not Paul to go into Bithynia, but sent him
to Macedonia. Had he then persisted in going to Asia his work would
have been in vain.
We may expect wisdom in the choice of the human agents we select. Half
a general's success lies in his choice of lieutenants. No class leader
should be appointed nor steward nominated till after prayer for divine
guidance. God has more efficient men for his Church than we know of.
He is thinking of Paul when we see only Matthias (Acts i, 26). When
Paul had to depart asunder from Barnabas God sent him Silas, the
fellow-singer in the dungeon, and Timothy, who was dearer to him than
any other man.
We may expect opposition to be diminished or thwarted. Let Hezekiah
spread every letter of Rab-shakeh before the Lord and pray (2 Kings
xix, 14).
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