Pleasing the Lord

A wish of David’s was a law to his three mighty men. (2 Sam. 23:15.16.)1 Should no then a wish of Christ’s be a law to us? Shall Christ have one mind; and we, His flesh and bones, another? With this tender mind toward our Lord, we shall follow hard after Him, and pursue nothing that may bring shame upon us.

Oh, let us think of the tenderness of the heart of Christ! No apple of the eye so tender as that heart. Let us then be careful to do His will; chiefly lest we grieve Him; but also for our own comfort and joy.

A child of God ought to be ever committing himself into God’s hand, that God may direct his way for him. The natural man deviseth his own way; but God would have His children hang upon Him for counsel and guidance in everything.

One of David’s mighty men fought singlehanded with the Philistine host for a piece of ground full of lentiles: others might have thought it not worth fighting for, but it was parcel of king David’s land; and to his faithful one that was enough. Let us in our spiritual warfare be like that good soldier. (2 Sam. 23:11.12.)2

Be content, for He hath said, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” This promise was first given to Jacob; then to Joshua: now it is spoken to all God’s children. (Gen. 28:153; Josh. 1:54; Heb. 13:55.) Let me lay up this promise in my heart, and I am a rich man. How can I please God to-day? He will take care of to-morrow, will be my settled, blessed mind.

Fußnoten

  1. 2 Samuel 23: 15 And David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate! 16 And the three mighty men brake through the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the LORD.↩︎

  2. 2 Samuel 23: 11 And after him was Shammah the son of Agee the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles: and the people fled from the Philistines. 12 But he stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines: and the LORD wrought a great victory.↩︎

  3. Genesis 28: 15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.↩︎

  4. Joshua 1: 5 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.↩︎

  5. Hebrews 13: 5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.↩︎