PURPOSE OF HEART TO PLEASE THE LORD
PURPOSE OF HEART TO PLEASE THE LORD
It is the purpose which, like the leading-shoot to the spruce-fir tree, will determine and ensure the harmonious growth of all the rest; even every other duty which, like branches to a well-furnished tree, attach to you on every side. This purpose obtains force and stability from the fact that the love of the saints proceeds from love to Himself. “Lovest thou me?” “Feed my sheep”. But more than this; I know His love to myself before I am the expression of it to others; and my expression necessarily always comes short of what I know; but yet it is in the toil and occupation of expressing it, that I deepen in the sense of His love to myself, which works in me this toil and interest for others. Hence not only is it said, “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them” (John 13: 17); but it is added, in John 15: 10, “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love”. Here it is acting for Him; and where the acting is simply for Him, there will be obedience to His injunctions. Devotedness cares only to please Him, it is not occupied with exploits; and this trait you find especially exemplified in women in the Scriptures. The women ministered to Him, they stood by His cross, they prepared spices, they watched, they saw Him in resurrection. They occupy the place of personal devotedness; as some one has said, they have more affection, men more energy. I believe they fill a place in service which men never can render; and when the Lord is working, you will always find that women are helpers in a marked, though unobtrusive way. They are like the soft feathers [p. 98] to the quill; they are not the masons, they do not build, but in the cementing ministry women are unequalled. I see servants either remarkably helped or hindered when women are connected with their work. Paul knew their value. But if they leave their place, they spoil everything. They put the soft feathers assumptively in the place of the strong pinion, the cement in the place of stone - everything is misplaced; and like a man thinking his hands would be more useful if employed to carry him as his feet, he diverts them from their true usefulness and degrades himself to a beast.
How blessed to have no interest but His, and then surely, the eye being on Him, each will fill his proper place. Deborah will give the first place to Barak, but Barak will not go without Deborah. The Lord give you to supply, as He calls, the down to the quill; and may you with strength renewed mount up with wings as eagles, and not faint.