The Master has gone into a “far country to receive for Himself a kingdom, and to return:” but He has left “to every man his work.” Our Lord has placed us in different homes, with varied duties to perform, and varied relationships to fill, (and the new life strengthens these ties), but all is to be done for Him. He is Lord of our time, our influence, our life: we can give our all to Him, and receive it back again, to hold and use for Him. Christ ennobles all work and duty—sanctifies every earthly relationship by consecrating all to Himself. His own perfect example is given as our pattern in daily life (Eph. 4:2, 32With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:2‑3)). And it will not please our Master for us to neglect this service, for what appears to be more emphatically His work.
All we do is valued by Him, not by any human standard, but according to the motive from which it springs. “For man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord God looketh on the heart.” Love to Jesus is the only motive that will bear God’s searching eye, but where this is found, it is so comprehensive that it will dignify the meanest service. “The cup of cold water,” given in His name, shall not lose its reward.
It is a solemn thought, that when we appear to be earnestly engaged in the Lord’s work, God may look into our hearts and find many motives there which have outgrown the only one that could make our service acceptable to Him, namely, love to His Son (1 Cor. 13:1, 2, 31Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:1‑3)). “The day shall declare it” (1 Cor. 3:1313Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. (1 Corinthians 3:13)).
Many a busy, active professor, when weighed in the balances of the sanctuary, shall be found wanting (1 Cor. 3:11-1511For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (1 Corinthians 3:11‑15)).
“But ye, when ye have done all, say, We are unprofitable servants, we have only done that which was our duty to do.” Our warmest love is cold, our most fervent efforts feeble, and the nearer we are to the Lord, the less we shall think of ourselves; the more we shall feel how unable we are to make any return for all He has done for us, or even to praise Him as we ought; all we can do is to give ourselves to Him, to be His forever.
There are heights in Christ’s love that we have never reached, and depths we have never fathomed; there are victories to be gained over sin which we have not yet achieved; there are treasures in God’s Word which we have never reached, but which the Holy Spirit waits to unfold, to enrich our souls.
We may do much more for Jesus here. He has many sheep and lambs, whom we have not sought to feed; some have strayed, and wandered far from the peaceful fold. We have not gone after them unwearyingly till they were found, There are many souls to be saved, over whom we have not wept. Soon our opportunities of service will be over, “for the night cometh when no man can work” (John 9:44I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. (John 9:4)).
May the Holy Spirit lead us upward and onward, “looking unto Jesus.” May we know Him as our Saviour, not only from the punishment of sin, but also from its power; and more than this, as a loving, gracious Friend, who is ever with us, and in whose peaceful presence we may, even now, “rejoice with joy unspeakable.”
Soon God’s purposes respecting us will be accomplished, and life and service here being ended, Christ will fulfill the mysteries of glory and of love contained in His own promise, “I will come again, and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there ye may be also.” Then the Father’s name, so faintly traced here, shall shine in living luster on each brow. We shall serve Him perfectly, and praise Him forever and ever.
(Continued from page 81).