"As regards hope, rejoicing: as regards tribulation, enduring; as regards prayer, persevering."
Rom. 12:12. (N.T.)
The opening words of this chapter are addressed to everyone who has been bought by the precious blood of Christ, beseeching us to present our bodies a living sacrifice to God. We are bought with a price and are no longer our own, and now the love of Christ constrains us no longer to live to ourselves but to Him Who died for us and rose again.
I write specially for those who labor in the Sunday School. Surely it is a blessed service for the Savior to seek to win hearts for Him. But how easily we grow weary and discouraged, and feel like giving up. How then does the Lord stir us up by the verse at the head of this paper. What our attitude should be seems to me to be well expressed in these words, " As regards hope, rejoicing." How beautiful to see that hope comes first. If we were to go by what we see in the children, we should despair, but we can look on with hope—yes, rejoicing! We have the Lord's word that " in due season we shall reap, if we faint not," so that as we look at the young ones committed to our care we rejoice in sure hope of a bountiful harvest from the seed sown in their hearts week by week. Do we grow discouraged? Well, the word to us is " As regards hope, rejoicing."
Then " As regards tribulation, enduring." Ah yes, we have tribulation. Many of us know much trial and sorrow in our work. The children are careless, inattentive and perhaps irreverent. Some resist all attempts to win them; some almost break our hearts with their waywardness. Well, the word is " enduring." Do not give up. Do not get weary. We are called to endurance. " Moses.... endured as seeing Him Who is invisible," and that is also our path. Our eyes are turned to that perfect One, our Lord Jesus Christ Who endured all to the very end. " Looking off unto Jesus.... Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross." He is our great Example. Let us fix our eyes upon Him and we shall get strength to be " as regards tribulation, enduring," and we shall have the comfort of the promise, " He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him."
Lastly, " As regards prayer, persevering." How important this is. How ready we are to grow slack in prayer. But that won't do. The Lord wants us to be in earnest, and so often reminds us to persevere in prayer. " Men ought always to pray and not to faint." He that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." Our God loves the diligent seeker. He loves to bless those who wait only upon Him. Surely we can each testify to the blessing it has been to our own souls to be brought into the Lord's presence continually as we bring once and again before Him those children He has given us to teach for Him. Truly, " They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint." As we are thus more in His own presence, our faith is strengthened and we can lay hold on His faithful promises-. If ye shall ask anything in My Name, I will do it." " Ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full." Surely it is well worth being " as regards prayer, persevering."
May we each go on, for His dear Name's sake, rejoicing, enduring, persevering, till He Himself comes to fetch us home to be " forever with the Lord."
Then let our gladsome praise resound
And let us in His work abound
Whose blessed Name is Love;
We're sure our labor's not in vain,
For we with Him ere long shall reign—
With Jesus dwell above.