Month: February 2015

By Alan H. Crosby

The Lord Jesus illustrated the commitment of servants by two parables: the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30 and the parable of the minas (“pounds” KJV) in Luke 19:11-27. They differ in one most important respect. The talents were given to “each according to his ability” but the minas were just given one to each. They were all expected to put to work what they had received, and their reward was based on the profitability of their service. We differ in our abilities and therefore will differ in the talents – the spiritual gifts we are given. But we all have one mina, our life, to put to work for the Lord.

How Shall We Serve? 
We are not to do as the young man did who left home and “squandered his wealth in wild living” (Lk. 15:11-31 NIV). But if we have, we should do as he did: repent and come back. His father received him as though he had never transgressed. This shows that it is never too late, as long as we have breath, to come to God and be fully accepted.

Scripture says that the way to serve the Lord is to “pursue righteousness and love” (Prov. 21:21).

Young Christians Need Help 
Young people are practically all characterized by one trait – they want to be doing things with their friends, who are chosen from among those by whom they are surrounded. If their friends are worldly, they will be worldly; if their friends are believers actively serving the Lord, they will tend to be doing things profitable for Him. Parents and the church (assembly) have a responsibility to help young Christians have Christian friends, have clean fun and do profitable service for the Lord.

However, there are always those like the young man in our Lord’s story who want to go to a place where they can “have a good time” and “do their own thing.” They may then have to find out for themselves that “living it up” is an unwise, profitless choice.

Choosing A Vocation 
A question commonly asked of a child is: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Their decision as they mature is most important because it will structure his or her life. The crucial question then is not “What do I want to do?” but, as asked by Saul (Paul) at his conversion, “What shall I do, Lord?” (Acts 22:10). When we do what the Lord wants us to do, we will be doing the Lord’s work!

Timothy was told, “If a man cleanses himself … he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work” (2 Tim. 2:21). May the vocation that is chosen be the one that allows us, as Scripture says, to “do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of believers” (Gal. 6:10).

Service Profitable For The Lord 
Going into “full-time service” is only one way to serve profitably. But it will be profitable for the Lord only if that is the place He wants that Christian to serve. He may want the person to have a career and witness in it to his or her associates. In Scripture, one man eager to serve the Lord was told to go back home and tell how much the Lord had done for Him (See Mark 5:19-20).

People asked the prophet John (the Baptist) about their vocation and producing good fruit for the Lord (See Luke 3:8-18). Those who asked he instructed to keep their jobs – jobs that were commonly available at that time – but with the qualification that they should avoid misusing them. John did not forbid any job, including serving as soldiers. However, Scripture says, “Whatever you do … do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Col. 3:17). Each person is to determine the Lord’s will for him or her regarding a vocation and then do it.

Discovering The Lord’s Will 
Only indirect answers are provided by Scripture to the question, “How do I determine the Lord’s will?” A wise plan would be to follow the example of Paul and his companions in Acts 16:6-10. They knew that in general it was His will that they “go and make disciples” (Mt. 28:19). So they arbitrarily decided to go into Phyrygia and Galatia, but “they were kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia” (where these regions were located). Then they “tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.” Finally, Paul was given a vision from which he concluded that they were being called to preach the gospel in Macedonia. The result was that the gospel did not remain in Asia, but it was taken into Europe. In short, like Paul and his companions we need to follow what is generally His will and then trust Him to show us the particulars. Furthermore “each … should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Pet. 4:10).

Ambition 
In whatever field a job is taken, “serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord” (Eph. 6:7). Those who do this will generally be considered to be good workers, suitable for promotion. Top people are always looking for workers to whom they can delegate responsibility. The worker who is a Christian should be energetic and trustworthy. However, if our ambition is to obtain power and prestige for ourselves rather than to produce for the Lord, it is misdirected.

The Devil’s Trap 
Our employment will generally be in jobs that help people to meet their needs. However, there are occupations in which we can make “good money” by helping others to fulfill their sinful desires. These occupations can be Satan’s trap for us. He would have us “sell out” to him and serve his purposes. 

Another trap is to yield to an employer’s demand that one do wrong things to “get ahead.” The trap often lies in doing something that is just “a little bit wrong,” but it will lead to activities that will be very destructive to one’s walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Satan has lures other than advancement. He stimulates us “to find out for ourselves” the satisfying way of life instead of simply obeying Scripture. Solomon is a typical example. He tried everything and recorded his experience in the Book of Ecclesiastes. He tried pleasure, alcohol, great projects, acquiring property and having a harem of many women (2:1-10). His conclusion from his experience was that “everything was meaningless, a chasing after wind: [and] nothing was gained” (2:11). His advice is: “Fear God and keep His commandments” (12:13). This means submitting your life to the Lord and seeking to make it please Him rather than yourself.

The Way Of The Committed Servant 
The Psalmist advises us to commit our lives to the Lord. He says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good … Fear the Lord you His saints for those who fear Him lack nothing … Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days [will] keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it” (Ps. 34:8-14).

Living For Jesus
Living for Jesus a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.

Living for Jesus who died in my place,
Bearing on Calvary my sin and disgrace;
Such love constrains me to answer His call,
Follow His leading and give Him my all.

Living for Jesus wherever I am,
Doing each duty in His holy name;
Willing to suffer affliction and loss,
Deeming each trial a part of my cross.

Living for Jesus through earth’s little while,
My dearest treasure, the light of His smile;
Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,
Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.
—Thomas Obediah Chisholm (1866-1960)

By Timothy P. Hadley

In his book called “Absolute Surrender” Andrew Murray gives a wonderful illustration from 1 Kings 20:2-4. Ben-hadad ruled over Syria, located to the north of Israel. The wicked King Ahab was reigning over the Northern Kingdom from the capital city of Samaria. Ben-hadad gathered together his armies, which he described as more numerous than all of the dust of Samaria. He, along with thirty-two other kings, attacked and devastated the countryside of Israel. They surrounded the capital and brought the rebellious King Ahab to complete submission. All hope was gone and everything lost. The message came: “Thus says Ben-hadad: Your silver and your gold are mine; your loveliest wives and children are mine” (NKJV). He demanded and got absolute, unconditional surrender. Later, things worked out quite differently in this very interesting story, but at first Ahab offered the Syrian king everything he possessed. Let’s focus on that one sentence: “My lord, O king, just as you say, I and all that I have are yours.”

This sentence very aptly describes what ought to be our attitude toward God – what every child of God ought to say to Him. If our hearts are willing there is no limit to what God will do for and through us, but this necessitates our unconditional surrender to Him. This holy life has two sides: doing what God wants you to do and letting God do what He wants to do. In this we will be wonderfully pleased at the result.

Life Service, Not Lip Service 
Abraham was called the father of faith because of his willingness to surrender everything to God – ultimately demonstrated when God told him to sacrifice his son Isaac. Abraham didn’t argue with God. Rather, he laid his son on the altar of sacrifice! God saw this act of surrender and said to Abraham, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me” (Gen. 22:12). This proved his allegiance to God.

It seems that we are usually ready to do almost anything except surrender to God. I recently read a story about British Navy commander Lord Nelson. The British were victorious over their enemy and the defeated admiral came on board Lord Nelson’s ship to surrender. The admiral walked up in all of his regalia [finest uniform] with a sword swinging by his side. When he put out his hand to the British commander, Lord Nelson impassively said, “Your sword first, sir.” Similarly, we come to offer God the flattery of our lips, the praise of our hymns; but God is saying to us, “Your sword first.”

Start Well And Finish Well 
Another example of one who lived his life totally surrendered to Christ is the apostle Paul. From the very first moment he met the Lord on the road to Damascus to his very last breath, Paul lived a life sold out to Christ. Before his conversion Paul (then known as Saul) was a very religious man who thought he was serving God by persecuting Christians. But when the bright light from heaven stopped him in his tracks, Paul found himself face down crying out, “Who are You, Lord?” Once he found out it was Jesus Christ speaking to him from heaven, Paul immediately surrendered his life by saying, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” For the rest of his life Paul relinquished control, abandoning his own desires and passions, and submitting everything to the lordship of Christ (Acts 9:1-19)!

In Paul we see a very important principle: It does not matter how we begin, but how we finish. Many start out strong in the Christian life, but they give out along the way because of difficulties that arise or they are distracted by the cares of this world – something else becomes more important than Christ (Mt. 13:19-22). But Paul could say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day; and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Tim. 4:7-8). What does this mean for believers today?

• “I fought the good fight.” When we trusted Christ as our Savior we entered a battleground. Satan lost our souls but he’s not about to give up. He’ll do anything to ruin our testimony. We are no match for the Devil – it’s impossible for any of us to win in our own strength. But Christ has given each of us His armor and the sword of His Word so we can stand firm (Eph. 6:10-17).
• “I finished the race.” Paul often referred to the Christian life as a race, not a short sprint but a marathon. God has designed a specific path for each of us, giving gifts and abilities to enable us to fulfill His purposes and finish the course. This race is long and filled with obstacles, but Christ hasn’t left us to struggle on our own. The Holy Spirit guides and strengthens us along the way.
• “I have kept the faith.” After revealing Himself to Paul on the road to Damascus, Jesus entrusted him with a priceless treasure: the gospel. “Keep” means “to guard;” and that’s what Paul did as he preached and defended the faith, whether to Gentile skeptics or religious Jews.

The apostle Paul was not some type of “super Christian.” He was simply a Christian who yielded to the Word of God, submitted to the will of God and surrendered to the work of God in his life. Paul had a fresh realization that God was at work in him and through him (Phil. 1:6, 2:13). We are inadequate to fulfill God’s purposes, but the Lord Jesus provides everything we need. 

A Positive Challenge 
Much is given to us in Matthew, Mark and Luke’s gospels about denying oneself and taking up our cross. But in the gospel of John the Lord Jesus describes a disciple of His as one who continues in His Word (8:31). We can be sold out to Christ only if we’re seeking His direction, following His Word!

In John 13:34-35 the Lord Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” We cannot say we have allegiance to Christ if we hold something against another believer. My lack of love says that I’m selfish rather than surrendered.

Jesus used the analogy of a vine and branches to describe our relationship with Him. Then He declared, “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples” (Jn. 15:8). A branch can only bear fruit by abiding in the vine. In the same way, if we are going to be sold out for Christ we must maintain a connection with the Lord Jesus in order to become and do what He desires. The Lord Jesus said, “Without Me you can do nothing” (v.5).

Each of us is now faced with a decision: Are we going to be sold out for Christ? Are we going to give our lives over to the One who loved us and gave Himself for us? How do we move into a life of absolute surrender? How do we live a sold-out life? I think the old hymn by Judson W. Van De Venter, “All To Jesus I Surrender,” puts it well. As you read excerpts of it, let it challenge your heart: “All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live. All to Jesus I surrender, Humbly at His feet I bow, Worldly pleasures all forsaken … All to Jesus I surrender; Make me, Savior, wholly Thine … All to Jesus I surrender; Lord, I give myself to Thee; Fill me with Thy love and power … All to Jesus I surrender; Now, I feel the sacred flame. Oh, the joy of full salvation! Glory, glory, to His Name!”

A Relevant CommentBe it observed that the cross is viewed as the consummation [fulfillment] of a life of obedience – the completion of a work of self-surrender. It is what we may call, to use a Levitical term, the burnt-offering aspect of the death of Christ rather than the sin offering. True, it is the same act which consummated a life of obedience that put away sin. But considering verses in Philippians 2, sin-bearing is not so much the thought presented there as self-surrender. Jesus gave up all. He laid aside His glory and came down into this poor world. When He came, He shunned all human pomp and grandeur and became a poor man. His parents were poor – they were only able to acquire the lowest grade of sacrifice which the law allowed: not a bullock, not a lamb, but a pair of turtle doves (compare Leviticus 15:29 and Luke 2:24). He Himself worked and was known as a carpenter. Do not miss the moral force of this fact by saying that every Jew was brought up in some trade. Our Lord Jesus Christ really took a low place. The very town where He was brought up was a proverb of reproach. He was called a “Nazarene;” and it was asked with a sneer of contempt, “Is this not the carpenter?” (Mt. 2:23, Mk. 6:3). He was a root out of a dry ground. He had no form nor comeliness, no beauty in man’s eye. He was the despised, neglected, self-emptied, meek and lowly Man from first to last. He gave up all, even life itself. His self-surrender was complete. —Charles H. Mackintosh