I ADDRESS myself to those who are converted; to those who know Jesus Christ as their Saviour, and who acknowledge Him as their Lord. Such only can work for Jesus. By nature men are spiritually dead, and cannot perform a living work. God asks nothing from the sinner; but commands him to believe in His only-begotten Son, that he may be saved. When we are saved, it is our privilege to become laborers for Christ.
In John 1:36-4236And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! 37And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? 39He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. 40One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. 42And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. (John 1:36‑42), we have an illustration of how we should work for Jesus. John the Baptist, “looking upon Jesus as He walked,” said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” Two of John’s “disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.” “Then Jesus turned and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto Him, Rabbi (which is to say, being interpreted, Master), where dwellest thou? He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where He dwelt, and abode with Him that day: for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two which heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon. Peter’s brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.”
We should point out Jesus to our neighbors and relatives, saying, “Behold the Lamb of God!” We are often asked to look on sights which are not worth looking at; but we are certain that none, beholding Jesus, will turn away disappointed. Tell your friends to behold Jesus seated on His eternal throne as the Ancient of days; His hands holding the scales of justice, and swaying the scepter of the universe. Call upon them to behold, with admiration and astonishment, the height from which He came into this world to save sinners. Point to Jesus in His humiliation. The distance between our earth and the farthest star is inconceivable; its light, traveling at the rate of one hundred and ninety-two thousand miles every second, which is more than ten hundred thousand times swifter than a cannon ball, only reached us yesterday; but the distant height whence Jesus came to make an atonement for human guilt cannot be measured. See Him cradled in the lowly manger; see Him clasped to His mother’s breast as she flees into Egypt, that she may get beyond the reach of Herod’s bloody scourge, that the Scripture might be fulfilled: see Him as an outcast, without a place wherein to lay His head; see Him bowed down on Gethsemane’s frost-bound ground, while the bloody sweat-drops ooze out from the pores of His body; see Him crowned with thorns, mocked, His back scourged; see Him on Calvary’s Cross, bleeding the blood of thy redemption; see Him as He dies, dies for thy sins, and learn how Jesus loves. Point to Jesus as the highest object worthy of the sinner’s love; as the Deliverer from a worse than Egyptian bondage; as the Rock of Ages smitten for sinners, that streams of living water might flow forth over earth’s desert sands; as the Saviour uplifted on the Cross to save a dying world; as the great sin-pardoner, the Lamb of God. Here is our one subject―Christ Jesus, and Him crucified. If we would successfully work for God, we must do so by pointing sinners to Jesus.
We must spend time with Jesus ourselves, if we would seek to bring others to Jesus. Andrew spent part of a day with Jesus before he began to work for Jesus. If we would be useful to others, we must have an experimental acquaintance with Christ. We must speak of that which we ourselves have tasted, handled, and felt of the good word of life. He who has never enjoyed secret communion with Jesus, has never done any acceptable work for Jesus. Private prayer, meditation on the word of God, and fellowship with Jesus, are the very best preparations for public labor.
They who would labor for Jesus should begin at home. Andrew went first after his own brother, Peter. This is what we must do, if we would be successful laborers for Jesus. The zeal of some persons is like to a castle in the air; it has neither foundation nor endurance. If ever we would be great in the service of Jesus, we must commence by being small. Let us begin with our friends at home, because with them we have the best opportunity; for them we have the most affection; and concerning them we have the highest responsibility.
Great results sometimes follow little causes. Andrew first found “his own brother,” and on “the day of Pentecost” Peter is made instrumental in causing “about three thousand souls” gladly to receive the Word, to be baptized, and to unite themselves with the company of believers. (Acts 2:41, 4241Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. (Acts 2:41‑42).) Jesus, on one occasion, preached to a poor woman who had come to the well to draw water, and shortly afterward many Samaritans are brought to Him by her instrumentality; “and many more believed because of His own word.” (John 4:4141And many more believed because of his own word; (John 4:41).) Let us begin low and aim high, and God will bless out efforts.
Andrew declared joyfully, humbly, positively, and intelligently, the good news that the Messiah had come. “We,” said he, “have found the Messiah;” and lest there should be an, mistake, it is added, “which is, being interpreted, the Christ.” It is in this manner all believers should endeavor to spread abroad a knowledge of Christ Jesus. They should go home to their friends and neighbors, and tell them that they have found Jesus. This is, at once, both their duty and their privilege.
Dear reader, are you saved? If you are, what are you doing for that Jesus who has saved you? May God, in His infinite mercy, stir up all His people to labor for His glory, and lei the salvation of the lost. T. W. M.