THE FAMILY ALTAR
April 26.
"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, immovable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know
that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." 1 Cor. 15:58.
Immortal Christians, never forget you have immortal work
to do in this world. That is the loving exhortation we hear from
the lips of the inspired Apostle Paul to-day. We are immortal!
Glorious truth ! And why ? Because God has given us the victory
over death through our Lord Jesus Christ. For us death means
the blessed and visible reunion with our risen Lord in the land
of the living through all eternity. "Blessed are the dead which
die in the Lord from henceforth; yea, saith the Spirit, that they
may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them."
(Rev. 14:13.) In that land of rest and glory our labor and work
will find an eternal reward. Even so insignificant a thing as
giving a cup of cold water shall not remain unblessed or be for-
gotten by the Lord. As His believers and servants we do work,
therefore, that is immortal. And what is the immortal work we
are called to do? It is to be witnesses for our Lord as long as
we live. In word and deed we are to testify of His love. No
matter what our calling or work in life may be, it is to be spent
in His service, a shining testimonial of His saving grace. Words
are dwarfs; deeds are giants. The world has sharp eyes to dis-
cover whether our conduct agrees with the profession of our faith.
A consecrated Christian life is always a telling argument for the
Savior and His Gospel. How many an unbelieving husband has
been won for Christ by the devoted, pious life of his Christian
wife ! Then let us never grow weary or despondent in our Christian
calling. Let us prove steadfast, unmovable in all adversity, always
abounding in the service of the Savior, though it often seems to
be in vain. It never is so. It is always seed for eternity, always
blest of the Lord, always brings immortal fruit. What a motive
that is to faithfulness unto our risen Lord even unto death !
Pleading for me,
My feeble faith looks up,
Jesus, to Thee:
Help me the cross to bear,
Thy wondrous love declare,
Some song to raise, or pray'r,
Something for Thee
