(J.R. Miller, “In His Steps” 1897) LISTEN to audio! Download audio
Every truly consecrated life, with all its faculties, has been given over to Christ. Faith implies full surrender. “You are not your own.” “You are Christ’s.” Christ owns us first by right of creation, then by right of purchase. We acknowledge His ownership and all that it includes, when we receive Him as our Savior and Lord.
The first question, therefore, of the new believer is, “What will you have me to do, Lord?” We want to begin to work for our new Master. A heart of love for Christ, makes the sweeping of a room, the plowing of a field, the sawing of a board, the making of a garment, the selling of a piece of goods, the minding of a baby–as acceptable to God as the ministry of angels!
One way of working for Christ, therefore, is to be diligent in the doing of life’s common daily tasks. The true giving of ourselves to God, exalts all of life into divine honor and sacredness. Nothing is trivial or indifferent which it is our duty to do. We are never to neglect any work, however secular it may seem–in order to do something else which appears to be more religious. …
We need a religion which puts itself into everything we do!
The old shoemaker was right, when he said that when he stands before the great white throne, God will ask, “What kind of shoes did you make down on the earth?” We must do all our work for the judgment day–our common everyday tasks, as well as our religious duties.
The carpenter must get his religion into the houses he builds;
and the plumber must get his religion into his plumbing;
the tailor must get his religion into his seams;
and the merchant must get his religion into his sales.
All our work–we must do for God’s eye!
It is the little things which all of us can do in Christ’s name, which in the end leave the largest aggregate of blessing in the world. We need not wait to do great and conspicuous things. A life that every day gives its blessing to another, and adds to the happiness of some fellow being, by only . . .
a word of kindness,
it a thoughtful act,
a cheering look, or
hearty hand grasp
–does more for the world than he who but once in a lifetime does some great thing which fills a land with his praise.
Nothing which is done for Christ is lost!
The smallest acts, the quietest words, the gentlest inspirations which touch human souls–leave their impress for eternity! “If you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of My followers, you will surely be rewarded.” Matthew 10:42
A young girl was asked what it meant for her to be a Christian. She replied, “I suppose it is to do what Jesus would do, and behave as Jesus would behave–if He were a young girl and lived at our house.” No better answer could have been given! The greatest duty of a Christian, is to do what Jesus would do, and to behave as He would behave–if He were precisely in our place, and our circumstances.
“He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” 1 John 2:6
~ ~ ~ ~
Something to ponder:
“God does not need your good works, but your neighbor does!” Martin Luther