Gathering Sticks.

Listen from:
HERE are some little folks who have been very busy. It must have taken them a long time to chop these sticks in lust the right lengths and then to bundle them up so neatly. They seem happy about their work though, and feel they have done their duty well. They are not thinking how soon these sticks will come to an end; they will keep the fire but a short time and will all be burned to ashes. The children will then have the same task to perform.
This is true in the life of everyone, is it not? The very same duties are to be done each day—over and over again. How good to show a cheerful spirit in doing our work, as these little children are. Saved boys and girls work cheerfully, so as to please the Lord, as well as to please their parents. We are told in Col. 3:1717And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. (Colossians 3:17), that whatsoever we do, in word or deed, to do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. So we want to do even the little disagreeable things in a way that is pleasing to Him.
In 1 Cor. 3:1313Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. (1 Corinthians 3:13) the apostle Paul through the Holy Spirit tells us that a day is coming when the works and ways of saved people shall be tried. The Lord will lay open and show every act that we have done, whether it was pleasing to Him or not; so we are to be careful and take heed that each little thing is done in a way to honor Him.
In 1 Cor. 3:1515If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (1 Corinthians 3:15), we find that if we have not done what is acceptable to the Lord Jesus, our works will be burned, and we will lose in our reward; but our souls will be saved. “If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss; but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.”
ML 10/27/1912