Inspiring Knowledge and Exalted Service
W. Birch, jun. Acts 27:23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, I. INSPIRING KNOWLEDGE. "Whose I am." The Christian is inspired with the knowledge that he is God's property. 1. By redemption. Cyrus, after a famous victory, took prisoner a noble prince with his wife and children, to whom Cyrus said, "What will you give me to set you at liberty?" The prince replied, "Half that I possess." Cyrus exclaimed, "And what if I release your children?" "All that I possess." "But what if I set your wife at liberty?" "Then I will lay down my life." Cyrus, won by the true nobility of the man, immediately set them at liberty without any recompense whatever. That evening, when the prince and his wife were rejoicing together over their freedom, he said, "Did you not think Cyrus a very handsome man?" His wife replied, "I did not notice him sufficiently well to tell." The prince exclaimed, "Why, where were your eyes?" She answered, "I had eyes only for him who said he would lay down his life for me." Likewise, we are the Lord's because He has already laid His life down for us. 2. By Divine grace. When those who are good judges of pictures see a valuable painting, they can tell us who was the artist, because every painter has somewhat of the same mind running through his productions; and in the true Christian, the Master has reproduced the image and likeness of God. In some of us the outline may be very faint, just as the first mark of the brush is upon the canvas; but, nevertheless, it is an outline of what by and by shall be perfect. 3. By spiritual union. There are many alliances, but the holiest and the sweetest is not when merely the man and the woman are legally joined in marriage, but when two pure and loving spirits living in these bodies become united in one. But a far more ecstatic joy is when God kisses the spirit of His children, and they become one in Him. Like as the newly placed graft in the wild tree becomes one with it, and causes it to bring forth good fruit, so Christ the perfect Spirit becomes one with us, and enables us to yield the fruit of self-sacrifice. II. EXALTED SERVICE. The Christian can truthfully adopt the motto of the Prince of Wales, "I serve." He serves — 1. With intelligence. In olden times, armies were treated as mere machines. "Do this! go there!" but in modern warfare the general often gives his soldiers the reason. They, therefore, obey him intelligently, and take an interest in their service. Likewise God explains His will to the Christian. The general may not declare to his army all that is in his mind, but, knowing all that is necessary and having full confidence in their captain, the soldiers march bravely to the fight. The Christian, also having the mind of God in the Scriptures, marches on at Christ's command without stooping to cavil at that which it is impossible for him to comprehend until after the battle of life is won. 2. With trustfulness. When Alexander the Great's physician came to him with a cup of medicine, one of the courtiers whispered, "It contains poison." Alexander moved the man away, and looking with unshaken confidence at his physician, he held out his hand for the cup and drank the whole. He must have been a noble man who could thus be trusted! And the Christian knows that God loves him too much to deal unkindly towards him. The medicine may be bitter, he is a wise and loving physician who brings it. 3. With willingness. The workman understands his employer's will, and he performs it well, but he would not do it were he not compelled to earn wages: it is a compulsory service. But, behold the devoted wife and the loving mother, who for the whole of her life gives herself to bless and to work for her husband and her children! Such a mother exhibits the willingness with which the Christian serves God — it is without any bribe of fee or reward, but because he loves the master who died for him. 4. With faithfulness. Charles II used to say that every man had his price, but were you to offer the Christian all the world, he would spurn it rather than depart from the law of his God. 5. At all times. Not only when religious people are looking at him. I once saw in a nobleman's grounds a place for a waterfall; the water was never put on unless his lordship was there. Is not that like many people? 6. With honesty. He acts upon principle. He says, "That is right; and because it is right I do it." 7. Without complaint. (W. Birch, jun.) Parallel Verses KJV: For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, WEB: For there stood by me this night an angel, belonging to the God whose I am and whom I serve,