Written by: John Sernaque
Stewardship
CS - Counsels on Stewardship (1940) Chapter 10—
A Call to Greater Earnestness The Spirit of Sacrifice
The plan of salvation was laid in a sacrifice so broad and deep and high that it is immeasurable. Christ did not send His angels to this fallen world, while He remained in heaven; but He Himself went without the camp, bearing the reproach. He became a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; Himself took our infirmities, and bore our weaknesses. And the absence of self denial in His professed followers, God regards as a denial of the Christian name. Those who profess to be one with Christ, and indulge their selfish desires for rich and expensive clothing, furniture, and food, are Christians only in name. To be a Christian is to be Christ like. {CS 54.1}
And yet how true are the words of the apostle: “For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.” Many Christians do not have works corresponding to the name they bear. They act as if they had never heard of the plan of redemption wrought out at infinite cost. The majority aim to make a name for themselves in the world; they adopt its forms and ceremonies, and live for the indulgence of self. They follow out their own purposes as eagerly as do the world, and thus they cut off their power to help in establishing the kingdom of God.... {CS 54.2}
The work of God, which should be going forward with tenfold its present strength and efficiency, is kept back, like a spring season held by the chilling blast of winter, because some of God’s professed people are appropriating to themselves the means that should be dedicated to His service. Because Christ’s self-sacrificing love is not interwoven in the life practices, the church is weak where it should be strong. By its own course it has put out its light, and robbed millions of the gospel of Christ.... {CS 54.3}
There is no price that can be placed on what Christ Jesus did for humanity. He took on humanity, was beaten and bruised, was a man of sorrows and grief, that by His stripes we are healed. There is very little chance that any one of us will experience the self-less sacrifice Christ went through to bear our sins. The least we could do is appropriate the means God provides to us for the dedication of His service. To help lead others to Christ that they may receive the saving truth of Christ Jesus. Let us all be Christ like to help in establishing the kingdom of God.
Our kind and gracious Father,
We thank You for Your saving truth. For teaching us and being our example. To know what it is to be Christ like. To be able to put aside our wants that we may be able to share the everlasting gospel to a dying world. We pray that You bless the means appropriated to Your service. We pray for Your church to grow strong and for Your message of salvation to go forth to the four corners of the world. Help us to put away our selfish tendencies so others can be blessed by Your gospel that they know the truth and be made free. Bless us and keep us and forgive us of our sins we pray, in the name of Christ Jesus. Amen.
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