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THE
NEW LIFE by
John Marshall
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Chapter
7 • SERVING
THE HOUSEHOLD
The Fellowship of Prayer
Another of the neglected services to an ecclesia is prayer.
Just as the presiding brother ought to prepare beforehand
for every aspect of his duties, including prayer, so everyone
who is used to being called on for prayer should prepare for
approach to Him who is the Most High God, and our Father.
If there was the remotest possibility of one's having to appear
before the Sovereign of one's country, would one go unprepared,
without any attempt to think of what might be said?
In our anxiety for spontaneity in prayer we neglect to prepare
our minds and our thoughts. We certainly have "boldness
(free utterance) to enter into the holiest by the blood of
Jesus". But free utterance of what? First, "to worship
the Lord in the beauty of holiness", then to give praise
and thanks for what we so bountifully receive from His hands.
Afterwards we may present our cares and petitions to Hun.
There is so much fellowship and such a release of love to
be enjoyed with the Father in prayer that it seems a pity
to burden Him, as we often do, with little talks on what He
has already revealed for our learning.
The new life is a family life and it is hi this divine household
that we learn what love of God and of one another means. It
is in this household that we learn compassion for one's fellow
man; and it is here that we experience a spirit to be found
nowhere else hi the world, God-given fellowship which issues
in a selfless service to others, resulting in forget-fulness
of oneself and helping to assuage the hurt and pain of one's
own troubles. It is in this household that the Christ-like
character is forged and spiritual strength is found.
The Heavenly Jerusalem
Let all strive to serve the household of God faithfully for,
says the writer to the Hebrews: "Ye are come unto mount
Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,
and to innumerable hosts of angels, to the general assembly
and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and
to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made
perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant. . ."
May each be worthy of the great honour which membership of
this great family confers upon every one of us.
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References
Eph 2v13, 18-19, Gal 6v10 RV, Matt 22v40,
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Chapter
8 • PREACHING THE GOSPEL
WHENEVER
God chooses a people He not only satisfies them with the hope of
glory but graces them with a ministry, a service, a work in His
Name. Within a couple of months of their leaving Egypt He told Israel,
through Moses: "Ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and
an holy nation." They were to minister God's name and holiness
to the nations, so that His name would be honoured.
The Old Testament history of Israel shows how the people failed
to uphold the honour of God until He declared: "They have even
defiled my holy name by their abominations that they have committed:
wherefore I have consumed them in mine anger."
An Elect Race
In spite of the overthrow of Israel and Judah, in spite of their
sufferings as a people, they failed to learn any lesson from their
experiences and when Jesus came to bring them renewed life and salvation
they rejected him, calling upon themselves his judgment in the words:
"Therefore I say unto you, the kingdom of God shall be taken
from you and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof."
Thus did the adopted sons of God come into their own to be given
the titles which Israel had previously borne; for, as Peter
wrote: "Ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,
a people for God's own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies
of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light."
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References
Exod 16v6, Ezek 43v8, Matt 21v43
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