Lord’s Vineyard
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Thus He intends that the ministry of the gospel shall be sustained. He
claims the tithe as His own, and it should ever be regarded as a sacred
reserve, to be placed in His treasury for the benefit of His cause. He
asks also for our free-will gifts and offerings of gratitude. All are to
be devoted to the sending of the gospel unto the uttermost parts of the
earth.
Service to God includes personal ministry. By personal effort
we are to co-operate with Him for the saving of the world. Christ’s
commission, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every
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creature,” is spoken to every one of His followers. (
Mark 16:15
.) All
who are ordained unto the life of Christ are ordained to work for the
salvation of their fellow men. Their hearts will throb in unison with
the heart of Christ. The same longing for souls that He has felt will be
manifest in them. Not all can fill the same place in the work, but there
is a place and a work for all.
In ancient times, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses with his meekness
and wisdom, and Joshua with his varied capabilities, were all enlisted
in God’s service. The music of Miriam, the courage and piety of
Deborah, the filial affection of Ruth, the obedience and faithfulness of
Samuel, the stern fidelity of Elijah, the softening, subduing influence
of Elisha—all were needed. So now all upon whom God’s blessing
has been bestowed are to respond by actual service; every gift is to be
employed for the advancement of His kingdom and the glory of His
name.
All who receive Christ as a personal Saviour are to demonstrate the
truth of the gospel and its saving power upon the life. God makes no
requirement without making provision for its fulfillment. Through the
grace of Christ we may accomplish everything that God requires. All
the riches of heaven are to be revealed through God’s people. “Herein
is My Father glorified,” Christ says, “that ye bear much fruit; so shall
ye be My disciples.”
John 15:8
.
God claims the whole earth as His vineyard. Though now in the
hands of the usurper, it belongs to God. By redemption no less than
by creation it is His. For the world Christ’s sacrifice was made. “God
so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son.”
John 3:16
. It
is through that one gift that every other is imparted to men. Daily the
whole world receives blessing from God. Every drop of rain, every ray
of light shed on our unthankful race, every leaf and flower and fruit,
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