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Christ’s Object Lessons
But the claims of God are not recognized by all. It is those who
profess to have accepted Christ’s service who in the parable are repre-
sented as His own servants.
Christ’s followers have been redeemed for service. Our Lord
teaches that the true object of life is ministry. Christ Himself was a
worker, and to all His followers He gives the law of service—service
to God and to their fellow men. Here Christ has presented to the world
a higher conception of life than they had ever known. By living to
minister for others, man is brought into connection with Christ. The
law of service becomes the connecting link which binds us to God and
to our fellow men.
To His servants Christ commits “His goods”—something to be put
to use for Him. He gives “to every man his work.” Each has his place
in the eternal plan of heaven. Each is to work in co-operation with
Christ for the salvation of souls. Not more surely is the place prepared
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for us in the heavenly mansions than is the special place designated on
earth where we are to work for God.
Gifts of the Holy Spirit
The talents that Christ entrusts to His church represent especially
the gifts and blessings imparted by the Holy Spirit. “To one is given
by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge
by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the
gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles;
to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers
kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: but all
these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man
severally as He will.”
1 Corinthians 12:8-11
. All men do not receive
the same gifts, but to every servant of the Master some gift of the Spirit
is promised.
Before He left His disciples, Christ “breathed on them, and saith
unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.”
John 20:22
. Again He said,
“Behold, I send the promise of My Father upon you.”
Luke 24:49
. But
not until after the ascension was the gift received in its fullness. Not
until through faith and prayer the disciples had surrendered themselves
fully for His working was the outpouring of the Spirit received. Then
in a special sense the goods of heaven were committed to the followers