There are various ways in which as saints we are tried, but through all circumstances our Father is threading our way, occupying Himself with us PERSONALLY, our particular characters, etc., in order to develop and mature us spiritually.
What we want is to realize that our Father loves us SO much, we are of such value to Him as that He should take such pains to make us “partakers of His holiness" (Hebrews 12:10). We are apt not to believe the activity of His love. Some trouble comes upon us; our Father has been watching us individually for weeks, months, and years, watching us to bring this trouble which He sees is needed for our optimal spiritual growth.
Everything that makes the condition of the heart better is good, and all is grounded in grace. Grace puts us in the Father’s presence, makes us partakers of His holiness ; then He says, “looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace,” i.e., do not lose this entire confidence in My love. This is the present practical enjoyment of what the Father is for you. If you lose that, you fail. There is nothing that links up the heart with God but grace.
Walk in the sanctuary of the Father’s Presence.
You are not come unto the terrible mountain Sinai. But having come unto the perfect grace of the Father in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, take care how you walk. GRACE MUST BE THE CHARACTER OF OUR WALK. This is true blessedness.
There is no real hindrance of evil by terror. The effect of the fire from Sinai was that “they entreated the word should not be spoken to them anymore.” Was that getting on with God? But we come to a different thing. We may speak of the law, but that is not where we are. Now we must be living witnesses of what we are, and where we are. We are come unto Mount Zion. We are in the lap of God’s Grace.
We are “come unto Jesus, the Mediator of the New Covenant” (Hebrews 12:24). Note, we are NOT come to the New Covenant, BUT UNTO JESUS, THE MEDIATOR OF IT. I am in living union with Him who is the Mediator; that is a much higher thing than if merely come to the covenant. He will fulfill this Covenant with Israel, on the earth.
Having come to the Mediator, I am come to the prospect of all the blessedness for earth. It is sweet to know earth will have it, but ours is the far better part. We are to be witnesses of whence we are. WE COME FROM HEAVEN (Philippians 3:20; Ephesians 2:6). In spirit it is true NOW. And what is true in spirit is more real and palpable than what we see. What is passing in our hearts and minds is more what we are really, than what our bodies are occupied in. The Lord Jesus was a carpenter (as really as any other carpenter), but that is not what He was. So with us, we are brought into all these things with our Father.
Then the thing is to always be a witness of the place He has called us to in Grace. We "are come" (Hebrews 12:22-24); then we have the Father dealing with us in respect of this place to which He has brought us. Do you say, This trial or that is enough to discourage me? But no; if is the Father who is bringing you into it, and He is with you in the place, dealing with you in Grace and Love, according to the place He has brought you into. In the midst of the company of Heaven, each one is singled out - - that is, ourselves.
Surely this is enough to make us humble and restful. -- H. H. Snell