Summer 2004
Christs Confidence in His Bride
Cora Harris MacIlravy

"The heart of her husband trusts in her, and He
will have no lack of gain" Proverbs 31:11 NASB.

The most solemn and precious testimony that our Lord can bear to this worthy woman is to say, "The heart of her husband safely trusteth in her." This is what Christ will ever be able to say of those who will be a part of His spotless Bride.

Consider what the Lord said about David:

"I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my
heart, who shall do all my will" Acts 13:22.

As we read this testimony, we can better understand the tender relationship between David and the Lord. Because Jehovah could trust David to do His will and carry out all His purposes, He anointed him King over Israel. Today, how many could be called "the friend of God," as was Abraham? Or, how many could the Lord trust to bear His Name before gentiles and kings as Paul did, even though he was shown beforehand what he must suffer to accomplish this?

At this present time, many of us are being drawn by the Lord to come to the level of spiritual maturity, where He will be able to bear witness to us, as He did to this worthy woman. Fidelity, discretion, obedience, and prayerfulness must be perfected within each of us before we can become a part of the company that makes up this Worthy Woman (Bride), and before it can be said of us, "The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her."

Those who will make up this company of the Bride must come to the place of un-questioning submission where the Lord has become their all and they now seek His honor and glory alone. Reverence for Him, and for His desires fills their hearts; therefore He can trust them with His secrets, and with His honor.

This company of overcomers will obey the Lord's command in the face of apparent impossibilities. At His command they will move forward, though stone walls obstruct their progress, and the enemy besets them on every side. When He calls them to press forward, they will move at His Word, step by step possessing new ground, believing that He who commands them is well able to lead them all the way.

Have we reached the place where we have no hidden desires or mixed motives of our own? This means no running ahead nor lagging behind what He is purposing to do. Only as we have yielded our will to be merged into His will, and our way to be lost in His way, can He safely trust us.

This place of trust has not been reached by this Worthy Woman in a moment. She endured many hard things as she walked a narrow and lonely path of suffering. God's own tender hands have emptied her from one vessel to another, until no impurity nor dregs of self-will, or self-life remain to mar her relationship to Him as His Bride. Over and over has He led her to the cross that her desires might be purified and her self-activities subdued. He has put her into His crucibles, making the fire hotter, that all the dross might be consumed and the pure gold of the Divine come forth and clothe her.

As we prayerfully consider how many times we acted without waiting to hear from our Lord, we will see how little He has been able to trust us. But when He has brought His Bride under the Spirit's control, He will say of her: "The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her." These are searching words when we apply them to our relationship to the Lord. Surely our imperfections loom before us.

If we would join this company, we must be purified and made transparent by yielding to the pressures of His hand until the clamor of our self life is fully dealt with.

How still the heart in which Christ dwells in full revelation - in which He reigns supreme, and the consciousness of His presence is unbroken. But suddenly all is changed. He seems to withdraw Himself, and hides behind our wall; the holy quietness is no longer perfect. We struggle to grasp again that holy stillness; but our very struggles further disturb our spirit's atmosphere and poise which cause Him to seemingly withdraw still further. We wonder, what is the cause?

We forgot that every sound of the earthy must be hushed if His voice is to be heard, and how yielded and meek must the heart remain if His presence and revelation are to abide and increase.

Yes, our thoughts and desires must be purified. Our wayward hearts must turn toward Him many times before we will be able to say: "My heart us fixed, O God, my heart is fixed, trusting in thee." It is in the heart that has become thus fixed upon Him, that He finds undisturbed rest. It is in the heart that has been purified, that Christ will reveal Himself.

As we set our hearts to live close to Him, to abide continually in union with our Lord, may we give ourselves over unto obedience to Him, so He may safely trust us with His secrets (Psalm 25:14).

Herein we become this spotless, shining Bride of Jesus Christ who will be adorned with all these charms, and gifted with all these excellencies; who will be worthy in His worthiness.