The Test of Our Actions
Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established. Proverbs 16:3.
Let us feel thankful that we have the privilege of committing our works to God. We are to remember that we are not pieces of inanimate mechanism, but intelligent beings, able to choose the right and refuse the wrong, with a clear conscience and a pure purpose. We are to aim at consistency in all our works.
We are to commit our way to the Lord, testing it by His searching laws. “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass” (Psalm 37:5). We cannot commit our way to God if we are working out deeds of injustice. “If I regard iniquity in my heart,” the psalmist declares, “the Lord will not hear me” (Psalm 66:18). When we commit our way to the Lord we are to search the heart through and through, casting out all evil, that Christ may fill it with His righteousness. We are to seek the Lord in prayer, putting at the beginning of our petitions repentance for sin. . . .
God’s law is the test of our actions. His eye sees every act, searches every chamber of the mind, detecting all lurking self-deception and all hypocrisy. All things are naked and open to the sight of Him with whom we have to do. But He will receive all who come to Him with contrite hearts and a true purpose to forsake every wrong. . . .
In all our business transactions, in every word and deed, we are to maintain a pure purpose and a clear conscience. We are to commit our works to God and then leave them in His hands. Our work is to be done in the strictest integrity. Nothing is to be cherished that we cannot carry into the heavenly courts. As we labor let us ask God’s help, realizing that this is the only thing that can keep our work free from selfishness. . . . Look upward with intense sincerity, for you need constant draughts of the refreshing air of heaven. We need to live in constant communion with our heavenly Father. . . . Perform your duties as if in the sight of a holy God.
That I May Know Him p. 290
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Prayer Requests
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Dear Friends,
Often, when we hear of the misery of this sinful, old planet, we say we wish Jesus would come and put an end to the sin and misery of this old world. Yet, how easy it is for us to get so busy, so caught up in the things of this world that we forget that He is longing for the same. Peter tells us, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” 2 Peter 3:9-14
How many times we get so busy that we forget the needed preparation, so He can come. How often by our actions we say “my Lord delayeth His coming.” Luke 12:45 One day as He was with His disciples, Jesus spoke a parable that is good for us to remember, “ye yourselves (are) like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all? And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” Luke 12:36-48
How often we forget where our priorities should lie. This world is not our home. We are pilgrims and strangers here. Our Master has asked us to put self aside and follow Him fully and completely. It is natural to shrink back from sharing a word in due season for fear of being ridiculed. It is normal to want a life of ease instead of hardship. But our Dear Saviour has promised, ” lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Matt 28:20 The wise man observed, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.” Ecc 3:1 So it is today. Now is the time to forget the pleasing of self in order to do a far more important work, the work of bringing others to Jesus. Now is the time to deny self, looking forward to the time when our Great Redeemer will say, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Matt 25:34
How many times we want the time for rejoicing to be in this present world as well as in the world to come. How vital it is that we have the Heavenly eyesalve that is ours for the asking. Jesus says, “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” Rev 3:18,19 How much we need to pray, “Show me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.” “Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.” Ps 25:4,5;119:33 James assures us, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” James 1:12
Our Loving Saviour tells us, “he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” Matt 10:22 Let us pray that we may serve Him with our whole heart and soul and strength all the way to the end. Let us lay aside the pleasures of this world and “fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” 1 Tim 6:12 Let us be faithful and watchful servants, keeping our Lord’s work always before our eyes giving diligence to make our calling and election sure. (2 Peter 1:10)
Rose