True service begins with Christ, who is the Head; and when Christ is forgotten, then the service is defective; it has lost connection with the Spring and Fountain of all service; because it is from the Head that “All the body, by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth” (Col. 1:1919For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; (Colossians 1:19)).
“The body is of Christ,” and He loves it as He loves Himself; and every one who would serve it will best learn to do so by knowing His heart and purposes towards it. In a word, it is Christ who serves, though it may be through us. We are but “joints and bands.” If we are not derivative and communicate from Christ, we are useless.
To be useful, my eye and heart must be on Christ, and not on the issue of my service; though if true to Him the end will vindicate me too, however disheartening the interval.
He who judges of his service by present appearances, will judge by the blossom, and not by the fruit; and, after all, the service is not for the sake of the Church but for the sake of Christ; and if He be served in the Church, though the Church own it not, yet, Christ being served, He will own it.
Now, the constant effort of Satan is to disconnect, in our minds, Christ from our service; and this much more than any of us, perhaps, have fully discovered. Whether in reading, or praying, or speaking, how seldom, if we judge ourselves, do we find that we act simply as towards Christ, and Him alone! How often may sentimentality and natural feelings affect us in our service, instead of simply love to Him!