God's Fellow Workmen
"I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase." (1 Cor. 3:6)
Thou shalt tell Me in the glory
All that thou hast done
Setting forth alone; returning
Not alone
Thou shalt bring the ransomed with Thee,
They with songs shall come
As the golden sheaves of harvest,
Gathered home.
T.P.
(pp. 53-56, Footprints for Pilgrims)
Do not attempt to do too much. Let quality, not quantity, be the desire of your heart as to your service.
The great secret of all blessing is to come from the Lord ... The Lord draw your heart so to Himself that you may come from Him to do every service.
You may find Christians ... who are really thinking more of themselves than of the Lord, exacting love and consideration instead of truly in the fear of the Lord laboring to confer it. Whenever a soul makes itself the object the Lord is far from it.
Every servant knows the past of our Lord, and many know of the future, but what really helps is knowing Him in the present.
Pleasing God is the highest service. This was Enoch's service, and "Without faith it is impossible to please God: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." Some seem to intimate by their acts that God is a rewarder of those who diligently work for Him ... It is a healthy sign when saints are zealous of good works, but I believe there is nothing so likely to sap the soul as the satisfaction one derives from feeling that one is useful ... When you have been much in active service you need to go to the "desert to rest awhile" with the Lord. The soul who does not seek this, and long for it, is the soul that needs it most.
Every servant requires, and as he waits for it receives, preparation for every coming service ... Every service, be it great of small, is in power according as the servant is prepared of God.
If I think more of the subject (on which I should speak) than of the power of Christ, and the unction that can only be acquired in His presence, the word will not be effectual, even if it be the greatest truth and delivered in the most perfect way.
If we cannot overcome where we are, we could not overcome anywhere.
Let not one of you be satisfied with anything but a triumphant Saviour. Then a better testimony would go abroad from you. What was it that arrested the elder brother of the prodigal when he approached his father's house ? It was the sound of music and dancing. And we should wake up many a soul if we gave more the impression of those who have got the greatest thing that God can give.
A Christian ought to draw from the whole range of heaven, from Him through whom he is filled with all divine teaching ... If he is not drawing from the heavenly treasure thus, he is not living in heart luxury.
--- J.B.S.
