Week 25—Friday Acts 5:40-42
Acts 5:40-42
FAITH THAT RIGHT ENDS WITH RIGHT
MEANS WILL BRING RIGHT RESULTS
As we draw near the halfway point in our study of the Word become flesh, primarily in the Scriptures, we now give a passage which sums up everything we have been saying: “And yet God’s wisdom is proved right by its results” (Matt. 11:19, NEB).
This passage is an important conclusion—put the supposed wisdom under life and see if it is proved right by its results. If it is right, it will have right results; if it is wrong, it will have wrong results. In other words, you cannot prove a thing by a syllogism—that would be the Word become word. It must be put under life to see what life will do to it. If it is wisdom, wise results will follow. This is the Word of wisdom become flesh, and when it becomes flesh then it verifies itself as wisdom by being lived out, and thus producing wise results.
The outcome is the criterion. This is a courageous statement of belief that the whole universe of reality is behind the word of wisdom become flesh. Put it under life and right results will follow. In other words, wisdom with right means will bring right results. This is a supreme faith that the sum total of reality is behind the Way, and the sum total of reality is against not-the-Way.
Test it, put it under life, says Jesus, and, as sure as sure it will turn out right, will bring right results. And everybody who has ever tried it has come to the conclusion that it works. If, as we have quoted, “All things betray thee, who betrayeth me,” then conversely, “All things back thee, who backeth me.” Life is behind Life. It is a dependable universe and can be depended on to bring right results if the thing itself is right.
O blessed Redeemer, we thank you for this assurance. For we need to know that if we sow ourselves as grain in your will, rich fruit will follow, maybe not today or tomorrow, but the third day, yes! We thank you, thank you. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: I should not ask about results. I should ask only if my ends and my means are right.