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the thoughts and intents of their hearts are
known to him and, however they may plead
their loyalty, the evidence of their profession
is lacking: “Not every one that saith unto me,
Lord, Lord…. But he that doeth the will of my
Father” (7:21). Professions of love and alle-
giance may sound strong and brave now, they
may even allow us to enjoy the pale light of
men’s approval, but if they are only supported
by idle, unprofitable lives the day will come
when their hollow vanity will be disclosed, and
the end will be shame and contempt.
The word “many” in Matthew 7:22 is disturb-
ing. It will not be one here and there who will
vainly protest. Most of us will discover in that
little word a challenge to search carefully into
our own hearts. We shall be stirred to demand
whether our actions are rising to the standard
of our professions. There is a world of differ-
ence between active and lethargic religion,
between those who accept only the obliga-
tions of service that come their way and those
who spend their lives creating opportunities of
service. If our service to God in its practical
field, our relation with man, is uninspired and
inactive, there is a very real danger that our
allegiance has degenerated into the mere
acknowledgement of our lips.
In the graphic language of the writer to the He-
brews, we are “compassed about with (a) great
… cloud of witnesses” (12:1), and the more
searching our penetration into their lives, the
greater our conviction that their works were a
natural reflection of their faith; their election
was a vigorous incentive to service. They were
“workers together with (God)” (2 Cor. 6:1).
Yet our self-examination must not end with
the determination of whether our service is
active or lethargic. In an active and even a
brilliant service which appears to be directed
towards the glory of God and the edification
of men, there may lurk a motive of self-satis-
faction rather than of self-surrender. There
are many subtle yet grimly real obstacles
which may cast shadows across our actions:
“all things are naked and opened unto the
eyes of Him with Whom we have to do” (Heb.
4:13). He discerns, but we must examine and
discover our true motives, however worthy our
actions may appear.
Our incentive
What is the secret of this active, vigorous dis-
cipleship that is nothing less than a transfor-
mation? What is the source from which it flows?
Whence come its incentive and its power?
Paul’s answer is that it lies in an appreciation
of the mercies of God. In his Epistle to the
Romans he gives a vivid portrayal of the drama
of salvation. He speaks of the hopelessness of
both Jew and Gentile, of righteousness, sanc-
tification and final redemption. We follow him
through his exposition of the grace of God, and
meet his exhortation: “I beseech you there-
fore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that
ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable
service” (Rom. 12:1).
This is the process throughout the Scriptures;
a revelation of God’s purpose with its in-
escapable emphasis upon the love of God, and
then an exhortation to walk in the light and
power of that love. The “manner of love the
Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should
be called the sons of God” (1 John 3:1) must
have a powerful transforming effect upon every
sincere believer, and evoke an active and loving
response reflected in our thoughts, words and
actions. This is the only source of true service.
Thus, in his epistle, John speaks of our lifelong
struggles in simple words: “Hereby,” he says,
“know we love, because he laid down his life
for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for
the brethren” (1 John 3:16 RV).
Our faith therefore must be a “faith which
worketh by love” (Gal. 5:6). Our zeal must be
the zeal of a responsive gratitude in our
hearts. It has its source in a deep and abiding
consciousness that we were strangers afar off,
and we have been brought near to God
through the life and sacrifice of Christ. If we
truly feel this release from sin and this
adoption into the family of God we shall show
it in our actions. Our service will have in
it both the humility of repentance and the
“imperturbable patience of faith”. We are
conscious, as we rise from the waters of bap-
tism, of wider horizons; a prospect of unlim-
ited spiritual progress with Divine resources to
strengthen us and the perfect example and
~ continued ...