The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 2 — Section 278

. Vers._ 13-32.-Privi?ege; unconscious e.ompanionship; incredulity. In this most mterestmg narrative, beside a very pleasing and attractive picture, we have a variety of lessons. We may gather instruction respecting- !. OlIB LoRD's ELECTIVE LOVE. It was a very great favour he granted to these two men. Why, we ask, was it rendered to them 1 Of one we do not even know his name, and of the other nothing bnt his name. Why was eo rare and high a privilege accorded to these obscure disciples, and not rather to those more prominent and active? In truth, we :find ourselves quite unable to decide who are the fittest to receive special favours from the hand of God, or on what grounds he wills to manifest his presence and his power. His selections, we are sure, cannot be arbitrary or irrational. God must have not only a rea.son, but the best reason, for everything he does. But into the reasons for his choice we often may not enter; they lie beyond our reach. It is not to the acknowledged leaders of the Church that God often chooses to manifest especial privile:i;e, but to those who are simple, unexpectant, unknown. He grants illumina- tions of his Spirit, peculiar joy and gladness of heart in him, remarkable success in the utterance of his truth, anticipatory glimpses of heavenly glory, to whom he will. And these are quite likely to he found amongst the humbler members of his Church. If there is any law which will guide our judgment it ie this-that it is to the "pure in heart," to those who have most perfectly conquered the fleshly passions and are most freed from worldly ambitions and anxieties, who have the simplest and purest hope in him and desire toward him, that he vouchsafes hie presence and grants the teaching and inspiration of his Spirit. But Christ's elective love is fully as much of a/act as it is of a doctrine. II. UNCONSCIOUS COMPANIONSHIP WITH CHRIST. These two men were walking and talking with Christ, receiving his truth and responding to his appeal, their hearts ., burning within them" as they held sweet and sacred intercourse with him; yet they did not recognize him; they had no idea that they were having fellowship with the Lord. There is much unconscious companionship with Jesus Christ now. Men are led into belief of the truth, are impressed with the sovereign claims of God upon their service, and of Jesus Christ upon their love; they ask, they inquire, they come to the feet of Christ to learn of him ; they come to the cross of Christ to trust in him ; they shun what they believe to be offensive, and pursue what th~y think ie right _and pleasing in his sight; and yet they are not at rest. '!'hey thrnk they may b~ m a good way or in a fair way !-<> find life ; but they d? n~t realize that !hey ~re in ~he right way. The fact ie ofttimes that they are walkm~ m the pat_h _of life with qh_rist, but "their eyes are holden that they do not know him." A D1vmo One h~ J?med himself to them, as familiarly and unpretendingly as to these two d1sc1ples, ingratiating himself into their favour, wooing and winning their trust and their love; but because there has been no period of well-recognized revolution, no sudden remark- able convulsion. they have failed to perceive that the work wrought within them .h~s been that of his own kind and holy hand. Such souls need to learn that oftenest 1t 18 not in the wind, or in the earthquake, or in the fire, but in the still small voice of familiar truth and gracious influence, that Christ comes to the soul in renewing power. If it is in Christ we are trusting, if it is in his service we are most willing t? Ii ve, if it ill his will we are most concerned to do, thell it is he himself by whose side we e.r@ walking day by day. OH, xx1v. 1-53.] 'l'HE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. 28!!