[Songs in the Night - December 6]
Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23, 24
THE foundation principles of the Christian religion
are laid upon these lines, which are the reverse of
the world's lines of thought and conduct; namely, that
the greatest one in the church is the one who is the
greatest servant, the one who renders most assistance
to others.
The greatest servant in the church was
the great Head of the church himself, who gave even
his life on our behalf.
And those of his followers who
desire to be great in the estimation of the Lord and
so esteemed of their fellows, are enjoined that they
should follow closely in the Master's footsteps, and
with humility of heart be ready and seek to lay down
their lives for the brethren.
Nor does this mean
simply formal service; it means actual service.
Our
Lord's sacrifice, we see, was not merely a form or a
show of interest and of love; it was the giving of his
life as the purchase price for ours.
So with us; we
are not merely to love one another and to serve one
another, in word, in profession, in title (as for instance,
the word "minister" signifies servant); but we are to
serve one another as we are to love one another, "in
deed and in truth." Z'98-228 R2343:5 (Hymn 157)