Reward of Service
437
it nerves the spirit for whatever may befall. Working with unselfish
heart, ennobled by being partakers of Christ’s sufferings, sharing His
sympathies, they help to swell the tide of His joy, and bring honor and
praise to His exalted name. In fellowship with God, with Christ, and
with holy angels, they are surrounded with a heavenly atmosphere, an
atmosphere that brings health to the body, vigor to the intellect, and
joy to the soul.
All who consecrate body, soul, and spirit to God’s service will
be constantly receiving a new endowment of physical, mental, and
spiritual power. The inexhaustible supplies of heaven are at their
command. Christ gives them the breath of His own spirit, the life of
His own life. The Holy Spirit puts forth His highest energies to work
in heart and mind.
“Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health
shall spring forth speedily.” Thou shalt “call, and the Lord shall answer;
thou shalt cry, and He shall say, Here I am.” “Thy light” shall “rise
in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: and the Lord shall
guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat
[514]
thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring
of water, whose waters fail not.” [
Isaiah 58:8-11
.]
Many are God’s promises to those who minister to His afflicted
ones. He says: “Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will
deliver him in time of trouble. The Lord will preserve him, and keep
him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and Thou wilt not
deliver him unto the will of his enemies. The Lord will strengthen
him upon the bed of languishing: Thou wilt make all his bed in his
sickness.” “Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the
land, and verily thou shalt be fed.” [
Psalm 41:1-3
;
37:3
.] “Honor the
Lord with thy substance, and with the first-fruits of all thine increase:
so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out
with new wine.” “There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there
is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.” “He
that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he
hath given will He pay him again.” “The liberal soul shall be made fat:
and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.” [
Proverbs 3:9, 10
;
11:24
;
19:17
;
11:25
.]
While much of the fruit of their labor is not apparent in this life,
God’s workers have His sure promise of ultimate success. As the