Part 5 (2/2)

The trumpet call obey; Forth to the mighty conflict, In this His glorious day!”

25. Twenty-fifth Day.

A Loyal Aim.

”That he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”--2 Tim.

ii. 4.

Here is something worth aiming at, worth trying for! The Lord Jesus, the Captain of our salvation, is He who hath chosen us to be His soldiers and now, does He only tell us that we may do our duty,--serve, obey, and fight? No; He tells us something more, gives us a hope and an aim so bright and pleasant, that it is like suns.h.i.+ne upon everything. He says, we ”may _please_ Him.”

Only one who knows what it is to mourn for having grieved the dear Saviour, can quite understand what a happy word this is! That we, who have been cold, and careless, and sinful, grieving His love over and over again, should be told after all that we may _please_ Him! Oh, if we love Him, our hearts will just leap at the hope of it! Perhaps we thought this could not be till we reached heaven; but you see His own word says, we ”may please Him” now, while we are soldiers in the very midst of the fighting. St. Paul tells us one thing in which you may please Him: ”Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing unto the Lord.” But he prays too that the Colossians ”might walk worthy of the Lord unto _all_ pleasing.”

Shall this be your aim and your hope to-day? Will you look up to the Lord Jesus now, and ask Him first to give you the faith without which ”it is impossible to please Him,” and then to show you ”how you ought to walk and to please G.o.d,” and so to help you to ”do those things that are pleasing in His sight;” that all your ways, even every little step of your ways, may really and truly ”please the Lord” (Prov. xvi. 7).

”True-hearted, whole-hearted, faithful, and loyal, King of our lives, by Thy grace we will be; Under Thy standard, exalted and royal, Strong in Thy strength, we will battle for Thee.

”True-hearted, whole-hearted! Fullest allegiance Yielding henceforth to our glorious King, Valiant endeavor and loving obedience, Freely and joyously now we would bring.”

26. Twenty-sixth Day.

Obedience to Christ.

”Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it.”--John ii. 5.

How are you to know what He says to you? Ah, it is so easy to know if we are really willing to know, and willing to obey when we do know! He has spoken so plainly to us in His word! In that He tells us, tells even little children, exactly what to do. It is most wonderful how He has said everything there for us, told us everything we ought to do. When you read a chapter or hear one read, listen and watch to see what He saith unto you in it. There is another way in which He tells us what to do. Do you not hear a little voice inside that always tells you to do the right thing, and not to do the wrong thing? That is conscience and He speaks to you by it.

Another way is by those whom He has set over you. He has told you once for all to ”obey your parents,” and to ”obey them that have the rule over you.” So, when they tell you to do something, it is the Lord Jesus Himself that you have to obey in obeying them.

Now ”whatsoever He saith unto you, do it!” Yes, ”whatsoever,” dear little one, whether easy or hard, do it because He tells you; do it for love of Him, and it will be a thousand times better and happier to obey your King than to please yourself. And He Himself will help you to do it; only look up to Him for grace to obey, and He will give it.

”Whatsoever He saith unto you, _do_ it.” Do not just think about doing it, or talk about doing it, but _do_ it! ”Do _it!_” Do the exact thing He would have you do, not something a little bit different, or something which you think will be very nearly the same, but do _”it.”_

And ”do it” at once. It is so true, that ”the very first moment is the easiest for obedience.” Every minute that you put off doing the right thing makes it harder. Do not let your King have to ”speak twice” to you.

”Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it” cheerfully, exactly, and instantly.

”Jesus, help me, I am weak; Let me put my trust in Thee; Teach me how and what to speak; Loving Saviour, care for me.

Dear Saviour, hear me, Hear a little child to-day; Hear, oh hear me; Hear me when I pray.”

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