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The work of God calls for workmen who do their best. “Do your utmost” is an alternative translation. The phrase entails the idea of persistent zeal. Anything less than wholehearted devotion is unworthy of our high calling.
The object of this zeal is God himself. The relationship to the One in charge of the work is all-important. We serve “in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead” (verse 4:1). We preach in his presence - “in Christ we speak before God” (2 Cor. 2:17). We are not carried away by the compliments at the church door - we stand before the Lord. Bishop Moule puts it perfectly:
Has He found the message true?
Truth, and truly spoken too?
Uttered with a purpose whole
From a self-forgetful soul,
Bent on nothing save the fame
Of the great redeeming name,
And the pardon, life and bliss
Of the flock He bought for His?
Think! but ah, with thoughts like these,
Hasten, sinner, to thy knees.
The correct handling of the word is the supreme element in the Lord’s work. Failure here means that men do not hear the authentic gospel and saints are confused and divided. The deadly gangrene of false teaching then has room to spread.
The object of this zeal is God himself. The relationship to the One in charge of the work is all-important. We serve “in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead” (verse 4:1). We preach in his presence - “in Christ we speak before God” (2 Cor. 2:17). We are not carried away by the compliments at the church door - we stand before the Lord. Bishop Moule puts it perfectly:
Has He found the message true?
Truth, and truly spoken too?
Uttered with a purpose whole
From a self-forgetful soul,
Bent on nothing save the fame
Of the great redeeming name,
And the pardon, life and bliss
Of the flock He bought for His?
Think! but ah, with thoughts like these,
Hasten, sinner, to thy knees.
The correct handling of the word is the supreme element in the Lord’s work. Failure here means that men do not hear the authentic gospel and saints are confused and divided. The deadly gangrene of false teaching then has room to spread.
Scripture
About this Plan
Daily Encouragement is a year-long, daily devotional written by a life-long missionary. It offers readers a source of strength, direction and joy from the Scriptures as it chronologically unfolds highlighting key passages from Genesis to Revelation.
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We would like to thank, David Evans (author), Dan King and Parksville Baptist Church for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: http://pfbc.ca
