THE BODY IS THE LORD'S

THE BODY IS THE LORD’S

I received your very kind letter yesterday. One thing is plain to me, that you are bound to consider for your health. I see that the first responsibility of a justified soul on the earth is that he owns that his body is the Lord’s (see Romans 12). No service is referred to until this sacrifice is duly made. “He that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit” (1 Corinthians 6: 17). If the beginning be defective, there must be a still greater defect in everything you attempt. Romans 12, Romans 13 describe the new manner of life for the Christian on the earth. If he is not right in Romans he cannot be running on to Christ as in Hebrews. And if he is not in Hebrews, he cannot come from heaven as in Ephesians. As far as I see, the first thing is that as the Lord’s servant you must be absolutely governed by the Lord as to your work. If it be the Lord’s will for you to have secular employment, surely He would not sanction you so over-taxing your strength that you would be unable to render the service to which the Lord has called you. I hope I have not said too much, but I feel assured that if the beginning is in the Spirit, the rest will follow. May He make this time of exercise of deep profit to you. I shall rejoice to see you set for the Lord and His interests, in this the scene of His rejection.