Anyone who enters into the service of the Lord Christ, does so as the outcome of a powerful and effectual work of the divine Spirit of grace in and upon their heart. Man renders service to sin and divers lusts and pleasures and revels therein, being oblivious to the supreme claims of the Lord to be loved and served. The effectual working of God’s power in the heart, by means of the Word of Truth, alone can and does separate the sinner from devotion to sin and the god of this world, and by illuminating the mind in the knowledge of the Lord Christ draws the heart to Him and to exercise faith upon Him as their glorious Redeemer from sin unto their experience of the mercy and forgiveness of God. Such are made aware of the Lordship of Christ over His believing and redeemed people, and that He will have such to give Him the pre-eminence and to be willingly devoted to whatever service He may direct them into by the guidance of His Word and as He may direct by His Holy Spirit. God’s people are saved to the glory of God’s grace in Christ, yet they are saved to serve the Lord Christ and this a soul liberating and elevating service, a service in which such may experience a precious sense of spiritual satisfaction. The infinite worthiness of the Lord to be served and the honour bestowed upon those who endeavour to serve Him are conspicuous factors involved in this area of Christian activity arising from faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
Whatever department of service in relation to the Lord Christ the believer may be engaged in, it can only be discharged by an abiding in Christ Himself and His fullness of grace and truth. “Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. And out of His fullness of all we received: and grace for grace.” Without Christ, the Christian can do nothing to the praise of their Lord. This, such will learn increasingly by experience, trying experience maybe at times, yet wholly profitable. Indeed they are required to say by their Lord after they have done all requested of them: “We are unprofitable servants.”
The carnal world will not be expected to commend them and any service they may render to their divine Lord. This is outwith the capability of unbelievers to appreciate, although Christians may manifest a real, earnest desire for their spiritual good and salvation. And on the other hand, while seeking, in one way or another, the edification of the Church and their fellow believers, evident appreciation and encouragement from this direction may be often conspicuous by its absence. The Lord will try and test His people in the realms of the World and the Church in the matter of the sincerity of their devotion to Him and in relation to Him primarily. What does the Word of God declare in this context? “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men” (Coloss: ch. 3: 23). It will be well for the Lord’s people as His servants to be concerned to know that they are active in line with His mind and will expressed in His Word. And then any discouragements are to be discounted and set aside by seeking the Spirit of the Lord to beget in one’s heart a sense of the worthiness of His name to be loved and served under all circumstances. Through one wave after another of adversity and discouragement, the noble Apostle Paul served the Lord Christ, leaving the issues with Him.
Many are the injunctions given by the Spirit through the Word to all believers which are relevant to their service, such as: “Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus”; “Stand fast in the Lord”; and “Rejoice in the Lord”. And surely strength, steadfastness and joy are divine gifts and precious favours bestowed upon believers by their Lord, as they humbly and earnestly engage in His service to which they are called, commanded or directed by Him. Paul and Silas in the prison at Philippi at midnight, prayed and sang praises unto God. They were men strong in the Lord, devoted to Him and rejoicing in His name, although afflicted by the world for the Gospel and Christ’s sake. So in days of prosperity and adversity in the service of the Lord Christ, there are spiritual compensations which make His service satisfying and worthwhile.
And whatever task or duties are laid upon a Christian by the Lord, it does not follow that such shall see any special fruit of their labours; albeit the purposes of the Lord shall surely and certainly be fulfilled. Their labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Any reward is to be looked for from the Lord Himself: “Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.” The Lord’s people in this regard may well be weaned from men of all classes. Moses by faith had a clear vision on this matter when he esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than all the treasures in Egypt, “For he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.” A large, precious and enduring reward is reserved in heaven for everyone united to the Lord Christ by faith and who while here endeavoured to serve Him, although sensible of great imperfection intermingled with all they endeavoured to do. On the other hand, all who enthusiastically slave for sin, the World and Satan, during their sojourn in time, having no mind or time for the claims of the Lord Christ, will receive a miserable reward; they shall lie down in sorrow at the last.
To the people of God, Paul addresses himself thus: “Be ye followers of me, as I also am of Christ.” And what was the bent of his heart and whole life? “For me to live is Christ.” And what was the reward he anticipated? “To die is gain.” So let all who name the name of Christ, seek with all their heart at the throne of grace, wisdom, strength and guidance to serve Him; and comfort and encourage themselves from the Word of God as to the future and wonderful reward awaiting them in the everlasting Kingdom of their Lord.