Serving From The Heart

by Guy Jarvie | Category: Training For Service | Oct 1960

The first lesson that we must learn in the service of Christ, is that of serving from the heart. David, the man of God, knew this well. Perhaps it was impressed upon his young heart by the words of Samuel the prophet, when he came to anoint him. "The LORD seeth not as man seeth, for man looketh. on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart" (1 Samuel 16.7). The LORD passed his brothers, and chose him, because the LORD knew his heart. The thoughts of his heart come out afterwards in his life. The vale of Elah (1 Samuel 17) showed the great difference between David and his brothers, but the LORD saw this difference long before with unerring accuracy. Among the many precious things that David said, none is more characteristic of him than his words to his son Solomon, and every servant of Christ should ponder them carefully.

"My son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve Him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts" (1 Chronicles

28.9).

It is little wonder that David was the man that he was when he could speak words like these. Servants of Christ, let us have this mind.

Let all our service, whether public or private, be done for His glory, and according to His word, not pleasing men, but God, who tries the heart (1 Thessalonians 2.4). Then we have the words of Paul to Timothy

"Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that

needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the word of truth" (2 Timothy

2.15).

"Approved unto God." Yes, that is the vital thing in our service. That is the first thing. Many of the readers are young disciples, just beginning to learn the ways of God. Remember it is God's approval you must seek, and therefore it is what you are in your heart, and in secret with God, that is important. Paul has given us a most helpful verse on this matter when he wrote

"The end of the charge is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience

and faith unfeigned" (1 Timothy 1.5).

If any one of these things is lacking in our service then we shall fail. We must have love out of a pure heart, for the Lord is searching our hearts. A pure heart is unsoiled, guiltless, innocent, sincere. We cannot please God and please ourselves too. But God alone knows our hearts, we do not know them ourselves. Have you read those striking verses in Jeremiah 17.9, 10 ? Here they are

"The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is desperately sick

who can know it? I the LORD search the heart."

Such is the natural heart, but when it is operated on by grace then it is a heart like that of David, who prayed,

"Search me, 0 God, and know my heart:

Try me, and know my thoughts:

And see if there by any way of wickedness in me, And lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139.28-24).

What a lot we owe to David, the man after God's heart!

The next thing is a good conscience, and this is important too. If we have sinned in any matter, or have offended others, or caused them to stumble, then these things must be put right, before we can have a good conscience. Bygones are not bygones, unless they have been confessed and there has been cleansing by the blood of Jesus. Our sins must be confessed to God (1 John 1.9), and our offences to others (James 5.16). It is essential for the servant of Christ to have a conscience void of offence toward God and men (Acts 24.16). Let us be right in this, whatever it costs us, or our service will be fruitless.

Then also we must have an unfeigned faith. We must know Him whom we have believed. In sickness or health, in prosperity or adversity, we must learn to trust God. Unfeigned faith is an essential part of our service. Our faith must rest upon the promises of God, and be kept alive by secret prayer, and meditation on His word. This is the faith through which mountains of difficulties are removed, and impossible things are done. There is no substitute for unfeigned faith.

Press on, dear fellow servants, young and old, in this the greatest of all service. The Master will not fall us. He will be with us to the

end of the age.

Guy Jarvie | Oct 1960
Training For Service