Two Christians were speaking together about their privileges and responsibilities, when one of them said, "I think the first thing for a Christian is to do all the good he can."
"I do not," replied the other, "for God's Word shows that to be the third thing."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, turn to Hebrews 13: 1216 and you will see: 'Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come. By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased."
Now we learn here that Jesus suffered without the gate; that is, outside the Jewish order of things, which was defiled and coming unto judgment, that He might. sanctify (or set apart) the people with His own blood; and then three exhortations follow for the Christian, and the order in which they are presented is most important. Doing good, you will find, comes third.
First, "Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach"; that is, get into the right company, in a right position. Christ is outside the Jewish order of things revived in Christendom under other names; and the Christian is first of all to be found in His company. He is not exhorted to go forth without the camp unto Him, but unto Him without the camp. His Person is the attraction. He suffered outside, and He takes His place outside, and He would have us with Him. What heart that beats true to Him will not desire to be found there? That is where His presence is known and enjoyed. Could we be in better company? May every Christian reader of these lines be found there.
Second, "By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name." This is sure to be the spontaneous result if the soul is in communion with Him. Get into His company, and the joy of His presence and the glories of His Person, revealed to the soul by the Holy Ghost, will surely cause the heart to overflow in worship, praise, and thanksgiving; and the lips will be found expressing the heart's joy in the ear of God. One continual stream of praise will ascend to God by Him. In the company of Christ, in a right position, with the soul in communion, God, and what is due to Him, will be before us ere we think of man.
Third, "But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased." The activity of the love of God in the Christian toward his fellow men comes third and last. To do good, etc., is perfectly right, but the glory of Christ stands first; and the worship of God stands before service toward men. The order is most instructive. And how are we to do good? To express Christ morally in our ways, He went about doing good. And if we are walking in the power of the Spirit, who dwells in us, goodness will manifest itself in innumerable ways in ministering for Him, both to the souls and bodies of those around us. And the heart being happy and confident in God as to temporal resources, liberality will characterize us in communicating of our substance for the benefit of others. Selfishness will depart, self being displaced by Christ.
The divine order then is to go forth to Christ first, to praise God by Him second, and to do good for Him (that is, in His name) third.
Fellow-Christian, do you answer to this?