The joy and triumph of faith are only to be found in the way of unreserved consecration of ourselves to God, and of diligent service of Christ.
All who labour for Christ shall receive great wages for little toil.
It is our wisdom to account the pleasing God our great reward. If we leave it altogether to His will how and when to give us fruit of our labour, we shall obtain abundantly what, as our chief aim, we do not seek.
Martha would please the Lord in her own way; Mary in her Lord’s way. There are many who would please the Lord; but in their own way, for lack of trying their works by the Scriptures: amid much labour they are unspiritual and barren.
From the charge of Paul to Timothy (1 Tim. 4:12-16), we gather the true and proper character of the servant of God.
The work of a servant of the Lord demands entire self-denial. “Even Christ pleased not Himself” (Rom. 15:3). He must be the servant of all men for Jesus’ sake, that he may be, under his Lord, a leader and a commander of the people: the foremost to suffer; the most laborious in all service; ever caring for others, ever forgetting himself.
Spiritual Warfare
The children of God in their spiritual warfare too much resemble the children of Israel after Joshua fell asleep. (Jud. 3:5-8.)
There were four things which made Israel fight well under Joshua: 1st, the necessity of fighting; 2nd, the certainty of victory; 3rd, God with them; and 4th, the rich spoil. How is it that God’s people, with Christ for their Captain, are but sorry soldiers?
If Christ be with us, what is the city of strength, what are the walls of Jericho, but an occasion to faith? (Josh. 6)