Serving the Lord with Gladness

This was taken from the devotional book, "A Daily Talk For The Upward Walk" by B.H. Clendennen and Z.E.

    "James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ..." (James 1:1)

    "Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ..." (Jude 1)

    ~ Thus boldly and proudly wrote James and Jude in an age when labour and service was a badge of inferiority and shame.
    A fine fellow was placed on a slave block in an Egyptian slave market.  His master was selling him.  Men were bidding for him.  A passing Englishman stopped, looked, listened, and began to bid.  The slave saw him and knew that the Englishman was a world traveler.  He thought that if the Englishman bought him, he would be taken from Egypt, from friends and loved ones, and that he would never see them anymore.  So he cursed the Englishman, raving and swearing, and tugging at his chain that he might reach and crush him.  But the Englishman, unmoved, at last outbid all others, and the slave was sold to him.  He paid the price, received the papers that made the slave his property, and then handed them to the black man.  "Take these papers; you are free," he said, "I bought you that I might give you your freedom."  The slave looked at his deliverer and his ravings ceased.  Tears flooded his eyes; as, falling at the Englishman's feet and embracing his knees he cried, "O sir, let me be your slave forever.  Take me to the ends of the earth.  Let me serve you till I die!"  Love had won his heart, and now love constrained him, and he felt there could be no joy like serving such a master.  This is also the true freedom and service of the Christian ...To the sinner, the yoke looks intolerable; the burden looks unbearable.  But to those who have entered into the secret of the Master, His yoke is the badge of freedom, and His burden gives wings to the soul.  This is Holiness.  It is wholeness of consecration and devotion.  It is singleness of eye.  It is perfect love which casts out fear.  The love slave does not fear the Master, for he joys in the Master's will.  "Not my will, but Thine be done;"  "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him," says the slave of love.  -S.L. Brengle

God's will for me! May that be done,

God's will, -whate'er it be!

His will and wisdom cannot err;

His will is best for me.

God's will for me! I welcome it,

Whatever it may mean

Of discipline, of chastenings,

Of testings sore and keen.

God's will for me! No more or less,

And nothing else beside,

In all my life, without, within,

That He be glorified.

O precious, precious will of God!

O blessed resting-place!

High mount of vision where my soul

Can always see His face!

- T.O. Chisholm