Winter
2005
Christs
Confidence in His Bride
Cora 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 trusts in her.”
This is the “well done” that Jesus will ever
be able to say of those who will be a part of His spotless
Bride.
“His wife has made herself ready. And to her was granted
that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white:
for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.”
Revelation 19:7b-8
“His lord said to him, Well done, you good and faithful
servant: you have been faithful over a few things, I will
make you ruler over many things: enter you into the joy of
your lord.” Matthew 25:21
Consider what the Lord said about David:
“I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My
own heart, which shall fulfill all My will.” Acts 13:22b
As we read this testimony, we can better understand the tender
relationship between David and the Lord. Because in foreknowledge,
the Lord saw that He 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
does 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 purposes 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. The Lord’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 does 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 is fixed, O Lord, my heart is fixed,
trusting in You” (Psalm 57:7). 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 to obedience
to Him, so He may safely trust us with His secrets.
“The secret of the Lord is with them that fear (reverence)
Him; and He will show them His covenant.” Psalm 25:14
(comment added)
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.