This verse came to me first as a very real message from God in a time of great pressure. We had fourteen guests in the Mission house and were almost without domestic help. I had, perforce, to lay aside correspondence and other duties and give my time and attention to cooking and housework, and was feeling the strain.

Then God’s Word spoke to me with power: “Thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath,” and in a moment I saw there was no need to go under—no need to be overwhelmed by my circumstances. No need to trouble because it seemed as if I could not get through and my ordinary work was getting in arrears—somehow, I could be above it all! “Above only, and not beneath.” How often I used to say as I went about my kitchen, “I refuse to go down,” and how the lesson I learned in those difficult days has been an inspiration ever since. Do you wonder that Deuteronomy 28:13 is one of my favorite verses in the Bible?

I see in it the possibility of a life of constant victory—not up today in heights of blessedness, and down in the depths tomorrow. This is a steady life. It is the life that has been established and settled by the God of all grace.

“Above only” is a position of victory, too. It is that position which is ours in Christ Jesus. “Alive with Christ. . . . in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:5–6). “Your life is now hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3).

When we lived in Alexandria, Egypt, we used to see some fierce squalls of wind and rain, which lashed the sea into fury. The great buoys in the harbor would be covered with spray and foam, but when the wind died down again they were still there in their places, unmoved and steady.

“Above only” for they had that within them which kept them on the top. And have we not power within us, too, which should insure our triumph? Let us absolutely refuse to come down to live and work on a lower level.

A MISSIONARY’S TESTIMONY

“Far above all” (Ephesians 1:21).

This is our rightful place—“seated . . . with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,” yet seated and still. But how few of us actually experience this! In fact, most of us believe it is impossible to sit still “in the heavenly realms” while living our everyday life in a world so full of turmoil.

Oh, we believe it may be possible to visit these “heavenly realms” on Sundays or now and then during times of great spiritual emphasis and praise, but to actually be “seated” there all day, every day, is a completely different matter. Yet it is clear from the Scriptures that it is meant not only for Sundays but for weekdays as well.

A quiet spirit is of priceless value when performing outward activities. Nothing so greatly hinders the work of God’s unseen spiritual forces, upon which our success in everything truly depends, as the spirit of unrest and anxiety.

There is tremendous power in stillness. A great believer once said, “All things come to him who knows how to trust and to be silent.” This fact is rich with meaning, and a true understanding of it would greatly change our ways of working. Instead of continuing our restless striving, we would “sit down” inwardly before the Lord, allowing the divine forces of His Spirit to silently work out the means to accomplish our goals and aspirations.

You may not see or feel the inner workings of His silent power, but rest assured it is always mightily at work. And it will work for you, if you will only quiet your spirit enough to be carried along by the current of its power.

HANNAH WHITALL SMITH

There is a point of rest At the great center of the cyclone’s force, A silence at its secret source; A little child might slumber undisturbed, Without the ruffle of one fair curl, In that strange, central calm, amid the mighty whirl.

Make it your business to learn to be peaceful and safe in God through every situation.

Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

The grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many . . . The free gift is of many offences unto justification.

God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.—He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?—The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

We love him, because he first loved us.

Blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.

I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the Lord, and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord hath bestowed on us.

He brought me up... out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.—The Son of God... loved me, and gave himself for me.—He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?—God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.—Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.

Fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour.

I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins,—They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches; none of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: for the redemption of their soul is precious.

I have found a ransom.—God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ.

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

We . . . were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

If, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

He that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.—He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

He which stablisheth us with you in Christ and hath anointed us, is God; who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.—Hereby we know that we are of the truth and shall assure our hearts before him. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.—We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

You hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sin.—Quickened . . . together with Christ.—Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom his dear Son.

Get wisdom, get understanding.—The wisdom that is from above.—The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me.—We are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.

Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.—God . . . hath quickened us together with Christ, . . . and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

They that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.—Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness.

The Lord is exalted; for he dwelleth on high.—The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.

He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; that he may set him with princes.

God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity.—None eye pitied thee but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the loathing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born.

And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee, Live.

He brought me up . . . out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

And he hath put my a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God.

When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.—God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ.

Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ. We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

We know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

If children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.