It matters little whether I am doing great things or small things, whether I am appreciated by those whom I seek to serve or otherwise, whether I am prominent or obscure, whether I see much result or little. The one paramount question is, Am I in the place, circumstances, service and condition of soul which are pleasing to the Lord, so that I have the consciousness of His approbation?
There is joy in service and in seeing the fruit of service. There is joy in receiving help and edification through ministry. But the greatest joy is to be near the Lord in the consciousness of ministering to Him, and to know that He has pleasure in us. It is the delight of His love to have us wholly for Himself, and, through grace, it becomes the delight of our love to be so. This gives singleness of eye, and takes the heart off every object which it may have chosen for itself. It makes the will of the Lord the one thing which we care to consider. Then we are practically in the kingdom of the Son of the Father's love, and He can not only acquaint us with His mind concerning us, but can bring us into all the blessedness of God's will in the full scope of His counsels and purposes.