Service

IT has occurred to me lately with comfort that though weak indeed is the moral effort we make in the service of Christ, yet service by a believer in this world is the sublimest moral sight in the creation; for angels serve with a consenting will, a consenting nature, and in a consenting system; we serve against all within and all around, the flesh and the world; and I cease to wonder that the church is called therefore into such dignity and such nearness to the throne in the kingdom. Yes; and let me ask, is there not a solemn warning to us in the history of Amaziah in 2 Chronicles 25 to watch the state of our affections towards the Lord, and not be satisfied by the mere performance of duties or services without a heart engaged for Him in the midst of them? For we read of Amaziah that he did what was right, but not with a perfect heart; that is, as I suppose, not heartily as unto the Lord. He did what he did, perhaps, through fear of the law, or to keep good account with his own conscience; but in his doings he had no care about the Lord, or His pleasure, or His glory, and was indifferent to the state of his affections towards Him. Terrible indeed, and more than we could have easily believed-he gets a victory over the children of Edom (in this and his previous acts, such as avenging the death of his father, and in dismissing the army of Israel, he had done right according to the letter of the commandment, the voice of the prophet), but his victory became the occasion of manifesting how hollow everything may be where there is not “a perfect heart,” no reference to God in our doings, no affection for Christ, and no concern about the coldness or barrenness of our poor hearts towards Him. But to return to Amaziah: he gets a victory, but his heart not being already possessed by the Lord, his victory gets possession of it, becomes the master of it, and seats itself there supreme. Accordingly he is lifted up, he boasts, and is proud, and the victory he got over Edom becomes the victor, is the master of his heart, because that heart was empty, not filled with the Lord. He therefore, as full of his victory, boasts, challenges the king of Israel, and suffers loss and dishonor in the battle; but even more, the gods of the conquered Edom become the gods of his heart, he worships them, he adopts the spoils, the captives of his own hand in war, as the deities to whom he bows down. Monstrous folly! Is this not written that we may learn to what a length of blindness and stupidity, as well as to what a length of madness and self-destruction, the heart may be hurried that does not what it does in reference to the Lord? Whatever is done should be done heartily as unto the Lord.
Scripture Queries and Answers.
IN Ephesians 1:1 we have “saints” and “faithful” in Christ Jesus. What is the difference? Does the latter refer to walk? In the eighth verse we have “wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence.” How are we to understand this? What is the meaning of “hath made both one” in Ephesians 2:14? ―R. H.
The word “saints” simply means “holy (or separated) ones.” We are made holy by calling; hence we read; “To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called saints.” All the people of God in every dispensation are saints. We read of saints in Old Testament Scriptures, and we read also of the “camp of the beloved saints” at the close of the millennium, which refers to the Jews who will then occupy the place of earthly blessing. The “faithful in Christ Jesus” are true believers. In those days, to believe was to be faithful, and so it really is now, though not so manifest.
In the eighth verse it is most blessed to observe that God, who has abounded towards us so richly in Christ in grace and power, has also in wisdom and prudence. His wisdom, in so ministering to our necessities as to make us eternally happy, and to bring eternal glory to Himself. The work of a prudent person is to anticipate the difficulties of the future, and make provision accordingly. “A prudent man foreseeth the evil.” This God has perfectly done as to ourselves. Hence the infinitely efficacious character of the one sacrifice which was offered, and the all-prevalent priesthood of Christ. In many other ways God has anticipated and fully met our need in and through Christ Jesus.
By “hath made both one,” chapter 2:14, we understand the oneness of the church in Christ, made up of believing Jews and Gentiles, each united to Christ by the Holy Ghost, and therefore united to one another in one body. “By one Spirit are we all baptized (both believing Jews and Gentiles) into one body.” (1 Cor. 12:13.)