Monday, May 25, 2015


Feed My Sheep

If we are devoted to the cause of humanity, we shall soon be crushed and brokenhearted, for we shall often meet with more ingratitude from men than we would from a dog; but if our motive is love for Christ, no ingratitude can hinder us from service to our fellowman. Oswald Chambers

In 1627, Samuel Rutherford penned a letter to Marion M'Naught, wife of William Fullerton, a worthy clergyman doing his weary best in a small Presbyterian church in Kirkcudbright, Scotland. Things were not going well, and he had few to "speak a good word" for him.

Like most of us he occasionally wondered it was time to move on: He would most gladly have the Lord's call for transplantation," Rutherford wrote. However, he continued, all God's plants, set by His own hand, thrive well."
In other words, as the adage has it, bloom where you're planted.

Rutherford writes on, Ask of God a submissive heart. Your reward shall be with the Lord, although the people be not gathered (as the prophet speaks); and suppose the work do not prosper...you shall not lose your reward.

So your people do not gather in numbers and the work does not seem to be prospering, be content for now to remain,[1] to pray, to instruct, to listen, to love, and to grow in grace. Continue "for the love of the Prince of your salvation, who is standing at the end of your way, holding up in His hand the prize and the garland to the race-runners."

Feed your sheep for love of Jesus and for no other reason (John 21:15-17). "You shall not lose your reward."

David Roper
5/25/15


[1] Remain until you're extruded, to use Francis Schaeffer's  colorful term.

Going and Not Knowing

"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing...