The Life of Faith 481
bitter inwardly. He is to do the will of God without the least thing to
stimulate his interest; indeed everything is dry and uninteresting. By
this process God will learn precisely why the believer suffers on His
behalf and obeys His will. God is asking him: are you disposed to
endure without being compensated by My comfort? Are you ready to
endure just for Me? Are you amenable to perform labor which does
not interest you a bit? Can you do it just because it is My purpose?
Will you be able to undertake for Me when you feel depressed,
insipid and parched? Can you do it simply because it is My work?
Are you able to accept joyfully physical suffering without any
compensation of refreshment? Can you accept it because it is given
by Me?
This is a practical cross by which the Lord reveals to us whether
we are living for Him by faith or living for ourselves by feeling.
Frequently have we heard people say, “I live for Christ.” What does
this really convey? Many saints assume that if they labor for the Lord
or love the Lord they are living for Christ. This is far from being
exactly so. To live for the Lord means to live for His will, for His
interest, and for His kingdom. As such, there is nothing for self-not
the slightest provision for self-comfort, self-joy, or self-glory. To
follow the mind of God because of comfort or joy is strictly
forbidden. To recoil from, to cease or delay in, obedience because of
feeling depressed, vapid or despondent is positively impermissible.
We ought to know that physical suffering alone may not be regarded
as enduring for the Lord, for often our bodies will be bearing pain
while our hearts are full of joy. If we actually suffer for Him, then
not only do our bodies suffer but our hearts feel pained as well.
Though there is not the least joyfulness, we yet press on. Let us
understand that to live for the Lord is to reserve nothing for self but
to deliver it willingly to death. He who is able to accept everything
gladly from the Lord—including darkness, dryness, flatness—and
completely disregard self is he who lives for Him.