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MUSINGS

“FOR JESUS’ SAKE” The greatest possible appeal to a

believer’s affections is the call to do something, whatever it

may be, for Jesus’ sake. He has done so much for our sake

and it is a privilege to which we should readily answer to do

something for His sake. He counts on our affection that we will

do so. In Matthew 10: 39 He says, “He who has lost his life for

my sake shall find it”. The martyrs—many of them young—did

that literally. We are called upon, in love for Christ, to lose our

lives while we still live—“He died for all, that they who live

should no longer live to themselves, but to him who died for

them and has been raised”, 2 Corinthians 5: 15. So our lives

are no longer to centre in ourselves and our own wills, but to

be yielded to Him. How He values that!

Love for Christ was the motive of Paul’s service. He says,

“Ourselves your bondmen for Jesus’ sake”, 2 Corinthians 4: 5.

What a fine spirit in which to undertake service! May any little

service we seek to render be done in the spirit of our Master,

respecting the saints as belonging to Him, and seeking to

promote His work in them for His pleasure and glory.

If there should be reproach or misunderstanding, let us go on

in the spirit of Paul—“I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults,

in necessities, in persecutions, in straits, for Christ”, 2

Corinthians 12: 10. “For Christ” is the key word. Let us go on

undeterred in simple, affectionate committal to Him and to His

own. Pleasing the Lord is bound to involve sacrifice, from

which, naturally, we would shrink. Are we prepared for it? Let

us go forward strengthened in the joy of doing all “for Jesus’

sake”.

FCM