OUR WALK AND SERVICE
OUR WALK AND SERVICE
There are three great eras in our walk on earth. First, we are brought to God. Second, the Holy Spirit is given, so that we not only know the acceptance of Christ, but our own deliverance. Then it is that our walk properly begins, and the end is to be here for Christ. “I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me”. (Galatians 2: 20) That is the start, and that is the fruit of deliverance; the heart’s settlement from that day out is -Where is Christ? Not I, but Christ - that He should be magnified in my body whether by life or by death. Christ is the Man to be manifested here. It is not a question whether a thing is good or pleasing, but is it Christ? “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof”. (Romans 13: 14) This simple rule, which is the sum of everything for walk, and necessarily most pleasing to the heart that is true, would not only make a reformation in all our ways, but would work in us a new way of doing everything here for God’s pleasure, and serving Christ according to His mind. The constant tendency is to try to improve the manner of one’s life here below by adopting christian principles, whereas you will never arrive at it unless you start from “crucified with Christ”. Then it is not thinking of what I am, but of what He is, “Christ liveth in me”.
The more you are in the power and ways of Christ, the more pleasing you are to God here on earth, and [p. 268] now you find your place in the assembly - God’s house. There is no position which is so easily assumed in name as to be in the assembly, but none which it is of deeper importance for anyone true to Christ and desiring to be here for Him on earth, to be in by the Holy Spirit. There are certain great marks of His grace which cannot be known except in this new position: anyone conducted by Christ into this new position finds himself in a new scene, and the first effect of it is that he is absorbed with Christ. No one is really there who is not absorbed with Himself risen. Hence, if you see anyone in the assembly who is trifling or unsubdued, he is not morally in the new position. Saints coming into the room really drawing near the Lord, individually absorbed with Himself, would have a beautiful time. This is the first mark. If one thus individually absorbed offered a remark, it would be characterised by the place from which he comes. That which is of God must impress us. No one can be in this new position without being characterised by the things that are there, because you find them nowhere else. You come into the scene of Christ’s joy, a scene of marvellous light (1 Peter 2: 9), to a scene where He has been rejected and refused, and it must give a character to your deportment, which nothing else could.
When we remember that we are here for Christ, on the earth where He has been rejected, it is an immense favour that we should form part of the habitation of God by the Spirit, and that there we should see Him who is rejected here, acknowledged by God as outside of man and above all the winds and waves, above all the power here. What satisfaction this must give to any true heart that seeks to walk or to stand for Him. Not only have you part with Christ on the new ground, but you learn in company with Him what are His thoughts and interests in the church, what He is to you in it, and how He enables you to be for God [p. 269] through His effectual teaching there; so that each one is gifted according to His pleasure, and is able to serve souls according to His mind. He has given gifts for this purpose, and the nearer anyone is to Christ the better he understands His gift, and the better he can exercise it for the benefit of souls in true knowledge of their need. If a servant is thoroughly set to live Christ, the assembly becomes the especial interest of his heart, and the service of Christ necessarily follows. Possessions or earthly influence are no help to a servant. The more he is attached to the Lord, the more he relies on His grace alone.
It is very helpful to see that when the Lord rose from the dead, He gave gifts unto men. Now a gift, as far as I see, is some special impression of Himself to you, and the nearer you are to Him, the more you know Him, and the better you are able to minister of Him. We find prayer and ministry of the word go together. It is not by reading or study that you acquire a gift. A gift is from Himself. If it is a gift of the gospel, you receive it from Him. He gives you an impression of Himself, as He said to Saul of Tarsus, Thou shalt be a witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard: so with Moses in the burning bush. You have always before you through grace the impression He has given you of Himself as a basis for your service.
The third era is conscious union with Him. The one who has learned to be as Christ here, whose heart is set on being here as Christ, comes to the third era, that is, being united to Him in heaven, being led like Rebekah to Isaac, ready in heart and ways for this union before it can be enjoyed. No one can appreciate union, who does not know that the fullest place of blessing is the nearest association with Himself. This is the reason why so few know it. If one has not reached the first step - crucified with Christ, he will make no progress on the road to reach the third. No one can appreciate union until he is in suitability for it.
[p. 270] Consequent on union the great scope of Christ’s interest and power here can be manifested. Many think they are doing great service, and in a way they are, but they are not come to that absolute attachment to Christ that would part with everything that is not Christ, and therefore they are not competent to come out in everything for Christ.
When He comes to reign all will be under His own hands.
Scarborough,