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prove to them positive blessings. They gain self-reliance. Conflict and
perplexity call for the exercise of trust in God, and for that firmness
which develops power.
Christ gave no stinted service. He did not measure His work by
hours. His time, His heart, His soul and strength, were given to labor
for the benefit of humanity. Through weary days He toiled, and through
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long nights He bent in prayer for grace and endurance that He might
do a larger work. With strong crying and tears He sent His petitions to
heaven, that His human nature might be strengthened, that He might be
braced to meet the wily foe in all his deceptive workings, and fortified
to fulfil His mission of uplifting humanity. To His workers He says, “I
have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done.” [
John
13:15
.]
“The love of Christ,” said Paul, “constraineth us.” [
2 Corinthians
5:14
.] This was the actuating principle of his conduct; it was his
motive-power. If ever his ardor in the path of duty flagged for a
moment, one glance at the cross caused him to gird up anew the loins
of his mind, and press forward in the way of self-denial. In his labors
for his brethren he relied much upon the manifestation of infinite love
in the sacrifice of Christ, with its subduing, constraining power.
How earnest, how touching his appeal: “Ye know the grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He
became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.” [
2 Corinthi-
ans 8:9
.] You know the height from which He stooped, the depth of
humiliation to which He descended. His feet entered upon the path of
sacrifice, and turned not aside until He had given His life. There was
no rest for Him between the throne in heaven and the cross. His love
for man led Him to welcome every indignity, and suffer every abuse.
Paul admonishes us to “look not every man on his own things,
but every man also on the things of others.” He bids us possess the
mind “which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God,
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thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no
reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in
the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled
Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
[
Philippians 2:4-8
.] ...
Every one who accepts Christ as his personal Saviour will long for
the privilege of serving God. Contemplating what Heaven has done