Even Christ Pleased Not Himself
Let us have a self-forgetting ministry, focusing on serving others and Christ, and finding our highest joy in divine love.
The preacher delves into the concept of Sabbath rest, explaining that it signifies a period of rest for God's people modeled after the traditional Sabbath, but not limited to a specific day. The rest is a fulfillment of believers' perpetual rest in fellowship with the Father and the Son, contrasting the weekly Sabbath under the Law. This rest is not dependent on special days but on faith in Christ's finished work, offering believers constant fellowship with God and freedom from worldly struggles.
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Let this be a day of self-forgetting ministry for Christ and others. Let us not once think of being ministered unto, but rather say with Him: I am among you as he that serveth (Luke 22:27). Let us not drag our burdens through the day but drop all our loads of care and be free to carry His yoke and His burden. Let us make the happy exchange, relinquishing ours and taking His. Let the covenant be: Thou shalt abide for me . . . so will I also be for thee (Hosea 3:3). In such abiding we lose our heaviest load-ourselves-and find our highest joy, divine love, more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35). Let us do good to all men as we have opportunity.
Let us lose no occasion of blessing, and let us look for ingenious ways of service and usefulness.
Especially let us seek to win others to Christ. The Days of Heaven are busy days, They serve continually. So spent for Thee and Thine, our days, As the Days of Heaven would be.
Sermon Outline
- The Call to Self-Forgotten Ministry
- Letting Go of Self
- Taking on Christ's Burden
- The Happy Exchange
Key Quotes
“I am among you as he that serveth (Luke 22:27)” — A.B. Simpson
“more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35)” — A.B. Simpson
“The Days of Heaven are busy days, They serve continually.” — A.B. Simpson
Application Points
- Let go of our own desires and take on Christ's burden to find divine love and joy.
- Look for ingenious ways of service and usefulness to bless others and win them to Christ.
- Make the covenant of mutual abiding with Christ, where we abide for Him and He will abide for us.