November 19
Behind His Chariot I Am Led
In the Hour of Silence"I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness."—Acts 26:16.
A MINISTER and a witness, a servant and a spokesman, Jesus made Paul. I am intended, my Lord has appointed me, to wear the twofold title.
Servant I am to be. Servant shackled by the unbreakable chains of gratitude to the Master who has redeemed me with His tears and blood. Servant smitten with a passion of longing to resemble the Master in His blamelessness and beauty. Servant who hears morning by morning the royal voice of the Master, clear, authoritative, absolute as no other voice in all the world, sending him forth to duty and delight. Servant who shares the very pulsing life and Holy Spirit of the Master Himself. Servant and friend at one and the same time—bondslave and brother.
Spokesman I am to be. There are hidden things indeed which I cannot reveal, intimacies of communion, moments on the Mount with Christ about which, in their mystery and miracle, I can say little to anyone. My gracious King has His secrets for me, with which no stranger is allowed to intermeddle. But I shall be sadly wanting in loyalty to Jesus and in love for souls if I do not tell some of the great things He has done for me. I must ask deliverance from the false modesty and the unworthy pride which keep me mute.
Minister and witness—far above riches, honours, triumphs, these names raise me. There are no names so much to be desired. Their lowliness is better than the world's loftiness, their subordination than the world's originality, their self-crucifixion than the world's self-pleasing.
Z