“Ye are they which have continued with Me in My temptations, and I appoint unto you a kingdom, as My Father hath appointed unto Me” — Luke 22:28, 29.
TO be selected by Christ as workers together with Him was a great honor, and the same privilege is ours today (2 Cor. 6:1). He called, they obeyed, and millions have profited by their service. How different would have been their lives had they planned for themselves instead of heeding His voice! What makes the tragedy of Judas’ defection so awful is that he had all the privileges and opportunities of the rest and he threw them all away because of covetousness and worldly ambition.
To do the will of God is to enjoy life at its very best. Jesus said, “I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me” (John 5:30). The doing of that will meant the cross with all its agony and shame. But only so could He be perfected as Captain of Salvation (Heb. 2:10). He endured it all for the joy set before Him, and now He sees of the travail of His soul and is satisfied (Heb. 12:2; Isa. 53:11). It is given to us not only to believe on Him, but to suffer for His sake (Phil. 1:29), and to serve with Him for the blessing of a lost world. Then, at His return we shall share His glory.
And there with Thee we shall rehearse the story,
Thy faithful love in desert scenes below;
And walking with Thee in that cloudless glory,
To Thee our endless praise shall ceaseless flow.
Until that day, Lord Jesus, keep us faithful
To Thy blest Word, and not deny Thy Name!
Oh, shield Thine own from every harm and evil,
Content to suffer loss and bear Thy shame!”
—J. W. H. Nichols.