“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.— 1 Cor 6:19-20

The fact that we have been bought with a price, not with corruptible things, as silver or gold, but with the precious Blood of Christ, lies at the foundation of all consecration (1Pe 1:18). In consecration we do not make ourselves Christ’s but recognize that we are His by an unalienable right. In the slave market human beings were sold like cattle; but this institution is set forth as the first step in our devotion to the service and person of Jesus Christ, the Lord who bought us. Slaves pass from one master to another. Among the Hebrews an Israelite would sometimes sell himself into slavery until the year of Jubilee, or until one of his kinsmen redeemed him (Lev 25:47-50). So our Kinsman, Christ, bought us back from sin and guilt and condemnation; He says, as He buys us: “Ye shall be for Me, ye shall not be for another.”

Our Lord’s claim upon us is built on His own supreme sacrifice. “He gave Himself for us,” says the Apostle Paul, “that He might redeem us from all iniquity” (Tit 2:14). He gave Himself up to the Death of the Cross, that we might reckon ourselves to be dead unto sin. The Apostles constantly speak of themselves as “the slaves of Jesus Christ.” Oh, that we might all live like this, counting nothing as our exclusive possession, but believing that all we have has been given to us to use in trust for our Lord and Master. He assigns to us each and all the work that we can do best. Some are called to work for Him in the high places of the Church, and others to toil in lowly obscurity, but everything is important in the great House of the Master, and all He requires is faithful service. I shall never forget when I first entered into the realization of the Ownership of my Lord; that I was His chattel, and had no longer any option or choice for one’s enjoyment or emolument. The life which was commenced then has been one of perfect freedom, for this is the enigma of His service, that Christ’s slaves are alone free; and that the more absolutely they obey Him, the more completely do they drink of the sweet cup of liberty!

O Lord, I give myself to Thee. I am born to serve Thee, to be Thine, to be Thy instrument. I ask not to see–I ask not to know–I ask simply to be used. Amen.—F. B. Meyer

“Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. “–Col. 4:6

There are very many things that may choke out love in the home. One of these is the lack of kindness. If you have grown less kind in your feelings, in your actions, and in your words–then love cannot thrive. Kindness is one of the best fertilizers for love.

There are so many people who have two sets of tones in which to speak–and two sets of manners in which they act. They have their company manners–and their family manners. When they have company–then the voice is soft and pleasant, and the manners are agreeable and kindly. They treat their friends with the greatest consideration; but as soon as their friends are gone, the pleasant voice changes into crossness or harshness and fault-finding–and the pleasantness of manner disappears! In how many homes is this true!

The greater consideration, the greater kindness–is due the home folks. Otherwise, love cannot flourish. If you wish to have love for your home folks–then you must show them the consideration that is due them.

Some professors of religion are like the catbird! When it is away from its nest–then it is one of the sweetest of the northern warblers; but when it is close to its nest–then you will hear only a harsh, discordant note. It has no sweetness in its voice while at its nest.

In the same way, some people reserve all their kindness, tenderness, and sweetness–for those outside the family circle. Is it any wonder that love dies in such a home? —Charles Naylor, 1920

“Let love be without dissimulation” (hypocrisy.)– Romans 12:9

Sometimes we can’t do what we would like because God doesn’t give us permission, but sometimes we can’t because we can’t. I recently started to write an article called “The Art of Aging” but decided that’s out of my league, for now. I don’t mind getting older, I just have a hard time adjusting to the physical limitations. I still have a desire to do things I used to do but I can’t. But I’m not alone. Many have it worse than I. At this moment there are many who have a great desire to serve God in various ways, but they can’t. There are dear saints in nursing homes, aged Sunday School teachers, and disabled preachers who have it in their heart to do things that they can’t. Their heart is willing, but their body, mind, or circumstances causes them to be unable to do what they would like to do. Not only do they have to deal with their desire being denied, they often worry about what others think–and that can be the toughest part. We should be more concerned with what God thinks about it. If you should do it you could do it.

My heart has been encouraged in this by knowing God knows it is in my heart, and that is enough to please Him. That’s all I wanted to do in the first place! What I wanted to do wasn’t important just because I had a desire to do it, but because it was pleasing to God– part of His plan for my life. Now I realize He has a different plan. It is a great blessing to know that God understands and says, “Well done”– although we didn’t do what we desired. God could have given me the ability to do what was in my heart, but He didn’t. He had a better plan and if I can’t be happy about that then I wasn’t qualified to do what I desired. So, having thought this through, I am now pleased that God is pleased with denying my desire. His will is all that matters!