“No service by itself is small
Or great, though earth it fill;
But that is small that seeks its own,
And great that seeks God’s will.”
Dear Reader, have we brought our life service whatever it be to this test? I take it for granted we are all engaged in some service for our beloved Lord. But is He our object in it? Is it to us as it was to Him, our great delight to seek to do God’s will? Oh! how happy that service when the servant can truly say “ It was begun, and is carried on in much prayer, and my only desire in it is to do God’s will.” Happier still if he can add, “And I fully believe it is the work he would have me to do, and that He Himself has given me.”
What can a servant wish for more than to do the will of a Master whose loving-kindness is to him better than life. And oh! dear reader, if Christ is not this to us, what is He? Yes, let us ask ourselves steadily the question, What is Christ to me? Is He or is He not the dearest object of my heart? If He is not our service must be more or less out of gear. If He be, and I have learned to love Him more than that much loved idol, Self, then to do His will is my sweetest task on earth, as it will be my joyful occupation in heaven. We have need from time to time thus to challenge ourselves. Of course if living as we should be, in daily communion with Christ, the answer that He is first rises as soon as the question is asked. But if our communion is intermittent and our love cold it may be some time before we can look up and say, Yes, thank God though my heart is often cold, yet Christ is first. Oh! may Christ be more and more to each of us.