John 12:24-26 Truly, truly, I say to you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it stays alone: but if it die… Few men love service. Man prefers to be his own master, to do as he pleases, But he who spurns the counsel of God commits an act of suicide on his liberty. He is the free man who serves God. But he who refuses is a slave to Satan or self. I. WHAT IS IT TO SERVE JESUS? We may serve Him — 1. In the faith we hold. Studying it, mastering it, loving it, practising it. 2. In suffering for His sake. Bearing meekly persecution, calumny, Divine discipline, and poverty. 3. In the outward acts we perform. Some may serve God in ecclesiastical duties, others in the private duties of religion, and those of daily life. If you cannot serve Christ in one way you can in another — the servant in the household, the nurse in the hospital, the merchant in the rectitude of his dealings. It is not necessary to be a clergyman; you may serve Christ behind the counter or at the plough. II. THE HONOUR GOD CONFERS ON CHRIST'S SERVANTS. 1. In this world. (1) In the midst of the Church. Whatever a man's rank may be, the most useful are after all the most honoured. Let a man deserve position, and his fellow Christians will not be backward in giving it. (2) In the world. You may not know it, but the conscience of the wicked respects the righteous, however scornful the tongue. And for whom does the sinner send on his death bed? His boon companions? No; the man of prayer. (3) After he is dead. The servant of Christ has honour at the hands of his family, his business connections, his neighbourhood, after he is gone. 2. In the world to come. (1) At the judgment — from persecutors, the wicked, the devil himself. (2) Throughout eternity. "Well done," etc. Parallel Verses KJV: Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. |
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