(J. C. Philpot, “Meditations on Ephesians”)
“And God placed all things under His feet and
appointed Him to be head over everything for
the church.” Ephesians 1:22
God has put all things, events, and circumstances
under the authority of Christ! How vast, how numerous,
how complicated are the various events and circumstances
which attend the children of God here below, as they travel
onward to their heavenly home! What an intricate maze
they often seem, and how much they appear opposed to
us, as if we never could get through them, or scarcely live
under them!
Yet, there cannot be a single circumstance over which
Jesus has not supreme control. Everything in providence
and everything in grace are alike subject to His disposal.
There is not . . .
a trial,
a temptation,
an affliction of body or soul,
a loss,
a cross,
a painful bereavement,
a vexation,
a grief,
a disappointment,
a case, state, or condition,
which is not put under Jesus’ authority!
THE EYE OF FAITH
He has sovereign, supreme disposal over all events
and circumstances! As possessed of infinite knowledge,
He sees them. As possessed of infinite wisdom, He can
manage them. As possessed of infinite power, He can
dispose and direct them for our good and His own glory!
How much trouble and anxiety we would save ourselves,
could we firmly believe, realize, and act on this! If we
could see by the eye of faith that . . .
every foe and every fear,
difficulty and perplexity,
every trying or painful circumstance,
looked-for or unlooked-for event,
every source of anxiety, whether at present or in prospect,
are all under His dominion, and at His sovereign disposal—what
a load of anxiety and care would be taken off our shoulders!
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.”
Matthew 28:18
If we could see by the eye of faith