John Macduff Collection: MacDuff, John - The Christians Pathway (31 days): Day 6

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John Macduff Collection: MacDuff, John - The Christians Pathway (31 days): Day 6



TOPIC: MacDuff, John - The Christians Pathway (31 days) (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: Day 6

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6. Serving the Lord

"Lord, what will you have me to do?" Act_9:6.

To prove the sincerity of our love to the Lord Jesus is something vitally important. Such as we are, as regards our feelings towards Him—that we are as to our acceptance at the high court of heaven. Without love to Christ, we cannot be the friends of Christ; and if we are not His friends, we are enemies to Him by wicked works, and the day is coming when it will be said in a voice louder than ten thousand thunders, "Those my enemies, who would not have Me reign over them—bring them here, and slay them before me!"

It is by obedience to His commands, and a spirit of consecration to His service—that we are to show that we are His true friends and followers. "If you love me—keep my commandments." In reference to all He commands, we should seek to possess a spirit of cheerful, unreserved, and universal compliance. When He calls, our language should be, "Speak, Lord, for your servant hears!" Should He bid us depart, even to earth's remotest bounds, this should be our instant reply, "Here am I; send me!" Were He even to demand our lives as an offering; if He required our heart's blood to be poured as a libation at His feet; we should strive to say, with His servant of old, "Yes, and if I am offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice!" Such, doubtless, will true love to Christ ever be in its tendency; and, sustained by all-sufficient grace, such it will be, if necessary, in actual operation. It will make us to be martyrs in spirit, if we are not called upon to be martyrs in real fact.

In general, however, the Savior's requirements are not difficult to be complied with; and without being either missionaries or martyrs, we may promote His cause, and glorify His adorable name. We can serve the Lord Christ without moving in an extensive sphere, or occupying any prominent and public position. What we need is a spirit that will lead us to devote ourselves to His service, according to the opportunities we enjoy. All can do something, even the poorest and youngest. It often happens that the power and influence of many are very great, when they appear to have little, or none at all. "That child," said Pericles, pointing to his boy at play, "rules the world; and," he added, "I will tell you how: he rules his mother; his mother rules me; I rule the Athenians; the Athenians rule Greece; and Greece rules the world." Such was the power, for good or for evil, which that little one possessed. Yes, the feeblest and most insignificant can do something, more in general—far more than they themselves imagine.

But, whatever be the measure of our ability, it is certain that the Savior deserves the utmost of our services. When we think of what He has done for us, and what we have done for Him—shame and confusion of face should be felt even by the most active and devoted. How appropriate is the enquiry, and how worthy of being seriously pondered,

"And is this all that you can do,

For Him who did so much for you?"

Who can think of the sacrifices Christ made, of the sufferings He endured, and of the cruel death which He died—without consecrating talents, opportunities, wealth, influence, all the faculties of our souls, and all the members of our bodies, to the service of Him who displayed love so amazing, so divine; love which originated the whole interposition of mercy on our behalf; love which still glows in His breast, uncooled by distance, and undiminished by the matchless splendors which now surround Him; love, concerning which, when imagination is wearied, and all language is utterly exhausted, we can only say that it is—as ancient as eternity, as boundless as eternity, as endless as eternity.

"Eternity, too short to speak His praise,

Or fathom this profound of love to man!"