Consecration in Ministers
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which fell from His divine lips soon caused His hearers to forget His
appearance, and to be charmed, not with the man, but with the doctrine
He taught. After teaching throughout the entire day, He frequently
devoted the night to prayer. He made His supplications to His Father
with strong crying and tears. He prayed, not for Himself, but for those
whom He came to redeem.
Few ministers pray all night, as did our Saviour, or devote hours
in the day to prayer that they may be able ministers of the gospel and
effectual in bringing men to see the beauties of the truth and to be
saved through the merits of Christ. Daniel prayed three times a day,
but many who make the most exalted profession do not humble their
souls before God in prayer even once a day. Jesus, the dear Saviour,
has given marked lessons in humility to all, but especially to the gospel
minister. In His humiliation, when His work upon earth was nearly
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finished and He was about to return to His Father’s throne whence He
had come, with all power in His hands and all glory upon His head,
among His last lessons to His disciples was one upon the importance
of humility. While His disciples were contending as to who should be
greatest in the promised kingdom, He girded Himself as a servant and
washed the feet of those who called Him Lord and Master.
His ministry was nearly completed; He had only a few more lessons
to impart. And that they might never forget the humility of the pure
and spotless Lamb of God, the great and efficacious Sacrifice for man
humbled Himself to wash the feet of His disciples. It will do you good,
and our ministers generally, to frequently review the closing scenes
in the life of our Redeemer. Here, beset with temptations as He was,
we may all learn lessons of the utmost importance to us. It would be
well to spend a thoughtful hour each day reviewing the life of Christ
from the manger to Calvary. We should take it point by point and
let the imagination vividly grasp each scene, especially the closing
ones of His earthly life. By thus contemplating His teachings and
sufferings, and the infinite sacrifice made by Him for the redemption
of the race, we may strengthen our faith, quicken our love, and become
more deeply imbued with the spirit which sustained our Saviour. If
we would be saved at last we must all learn the lesson of penitence
and faith at the foot of the cross. Christ suffered humiliation to save
us from everlasting disgrace. He consented to have scorn, mockery,
and abuse fall upon Him in order to shield us. It was our transgression