| The Joy of Service |
Chapter 11 |
Page 3 |
It is a shame if, with these wonderful books spread open before our eyes, every page glowing with the rich treasures of the knowledge of Christ, we give our chief time, thought, and study to the mere trifles of earthly life. It is a shame if Christ is not ever changing to our thought, ever increasing in the beauty and glory of His character. It is a pity if we have the same Christ year after year, with no new revealings of loveliness. If we make it the aim of our life to know Christ, every day will have its fresh disclosures of Him.
Then Christ should grow constantly in the mastership of our life. “He must increase,” said John the Baptist, “but I must decrease.” From that day Jesus became ever greater, and John grew less and less, until the Baptist’s light faded like the beams of the morning star in the glory of the rising sun. The saintly French preacher, Monod, tells us how at first his heart’s answer to Christ was, “All of self and none of Thee.” At length he caught a glimpse of the Saviour on the cross, hearing His voice of tender, and patient pleading. Then his wistful heart said faintly, under the new influence, “Some of self and some of Thee.” The work of grace went on day by day, bringing him lower and lower in humility, until at length his longing was, “Less of self and more of Thee.” Still the work was not finished, nor did it rest until the petition became, at length, “None of self and all of Thee.”
This should be the final outcome of every Christian’s experience. Usually the heart’s full surrender to Christ is reached in just this way – not suddenly, in a moment, but gradually, through a series of experiences. Little by little Christ wins the mastery over us, gaining something each day. The old nature yields slowly, – it is the work of years to bring the whole being into subjection to Christ. Yet He must increase, and the old life must decrease, until it is, “None of self and all of Thee.” Christ must reign in each life until He has put all things under His feet.
Page 3