A Ribband of Blue

A Ribband of Blue, by J. Hudson
Taylor

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Title: A Ribband of Blue And Other Bible Studies
Author: J. Hudson Taylor
Release Date: November 10, 2007 [EBook #23438]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A
RIBBAND OF BLUE ***

A Ribband of Blue AND OTHER BIBLE STUDIES
By J. HUDSON TAYLOR. (A companion volume to "Union and
Communion," and to "Separation and Service.")
London CHINA INLAND MISSION, Newington Green, N. Morgan &
Scott, 12, Paternoster Buildings, E.C.

A Ribband Of Blue.
We would draw the attention of beloved friends to the instructive
passage with which the fifteenth chapter of Numbers closes; and may
GOD, through our meditation on His precious Word, make it yet more
precious and practical to each one of us, for CHRIST our
REDEEMER'S sake!
The whole chapter is full of important teaching. It commences with
instruction concerning the burnt-offering, the sacrifice in performing a
vow, and the free-will offering. It was not to be supposed that any one
might present his sacrifice to GOD according to his own thought and
plan. If it were to be acceptable--a sweet savour unto the LORD--it
must be an offering in every respect such as GOD had appointed. We
cannot become acceptable to GOD in ways of our own devising; from
beginning to end it must be, "Not my will, but Thine, be done."
Then, from the seventeenth to the twenty-first verse, the LORD claims
a first-fruits. The people of GOD were not to eat their fill, consume all
that they cared to consume, and then give to GOD somewhat of the
remainder; but before they touched the bread of the land, a
heave-offering was to be offered to the LORD; and when the
requirement of GOD had been fully met, then, and not till then, were
they at liberty to satisfy their own hunger and supply their own wants.
How often we see the reverse of this in daily life! Not only are
necessaries first supplied from the income, but every fancied luxury is
procured without stint, before the question of the consecration of
substance to GOD is really entertained.
Next follow the directions concerning errors from heedlessness and
ignorance. The people were not to imagine that sin was not sinful if it
were unconsciously committed. Man's knowledge and consciousness
do not make wrong right or right wrong. The will of GOD was revealed
and ought to have been known: not to know that will was in itself sinful;
and not to do that will, whether consciously or unconsciously, was
sin--sin that could only be put away by atoning sacrifice.

GOD dealt in much mercy and grace with those who committed sins of
ignorance; though, when the sin became known and recognised,
confession and sacrifice were immediately needful. But, thank GOD!
the sacrifice was ordained, and the sin could be put away.
It was not so with the presumptuous sin. No sacrifice was appointed for
a man, whether born in the land or a stranger, who reproached the
LORD by presumptuous sin. Of that man it was said, "that soul shall
utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him."
This distinction is very important to make. We are not to think that our
holiest service is free from sin, or can be accepted save through JESUS
CHRIST our LORD. We are not to suppose that sins of omission, any
more than sins of commission, are looked lightly upon by GOD: sins of
forgetfulness and heedlessness or ignorance are more than frailties--are
real sins, needing atoning sacrifice. GOD deals very gently and
graciously with us in these matters; when transgression or iniquity is
brought home to the conscience, "if we confess our sins, He is faithful
and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness." Even when walking in the light, "as He is in the
light," we are not beyond the need of atonement. Though our
fellowship with GOD be unbroken by any conscious transgression, it
continues unbroken only because "the blood of JESUS CHRIST HIS
SON is cleansing us from all sin."
The man, however, who would presume on GOD's forgiveness, and
despise GOD's holiness and His claim upon His people, by doing
deliberately the thing that he knows to be contrary to GOD's will, that
man will find spiritual dearth and spiritual death inevitably follow. His
communion with GOD is brought to an end, and it