Matthew 11:26

Matthew 11:26

I. There are some occasions of life and times of perplexing difficulty and sorrow when the mind, which was at first paralyzed, by degrees awakes and recovers itself to see reasons merciful, satisfying reasons why God did these things. That is one of the paths which lead out of the lower places up to a purer atmosphere, to peace and safety. But there is a much higher and more blessed state than that. It is when, with all your thinking, you can see no explanatory reason, nor trace one justifying cause whatsoever, in the whole circumstances of the case. Then at such a time as that to bend, to submit and believe, as much as when the mind had some clues to help it and rays to guide it that is faith indeed, and will have its reward. "Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in Thy sight."

II. To cherish such a feeling in our hearts our Lord's words give us two suggestions one implied, and one expressed. (1) Take right views of the Fatherly character of God. There are no sins we ever commit greater than the sin of not treating God as a Father. (2) We often speak of certain great principles principles of justice, reason, love, fitness and we are offended if ever we see or hear anything which does not square with these great fundamental truths. But have these truths no foundation under them? Assuredly the mind of God must be the first seat of all of all that is true and all that is right. These great principles make the mind of God; they come from the mind of God. Take that thought also with you down the labyrinth. Nothing could have happened to you unless it had first been in the mind of God. He knows the end from the beginning. To that vast intelligence there are thousands of reasons present of which you cannot read one. The unfoldings of another world will solve the problems here, and justify God in His moral government.

J. Vaughan, Fifty Sermons,10th series, p. 60.