He told them how he was passing away, and how the work was great, so he
asked them a question which may be well put to every congregation in
every age, “Who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto
the Lord?”
Now, we hear a great deal in these days of consecration. The idea of
consecration is not a new thing in the Church of God, and I am sure that
we want more of the true spirit of it in our own hearts. There is such a
thing as consecration of heart, and consecration of service. The
consecration of heart is the surrender of the whole man with the
affections, the powers, and the strong will to the Lord. The
consecration of service is the dedication of all our active powers to his
work. When David said, “I am thine,” {82a} it was the consecration of
heart, and when Isaiah said, “Here am I, send me,” {82b} it was the
consecration of service. Now, it was the consecration of service for
which David appealed, and it is this practical consecration of service on
which we are dependent for the work in a parish. Who is willing to
consecrate his service? I cannot see into the secrets of the hearts, but
I know who ought to be willing—all those who believe in the words of our
Blessed Saviour, “For their sakes I consecrate Myself.” {82c} Did He,
the spotless Son of God, consecrate Himself to be the atoning sacrifice
for us? And if we believe that, can we doubt for one moment who it is
that should be willing to consecrate his service to Him? Redeemed
sinner, is it not you? Pardoned believer, is it not you? Are you ready
to fall at His feet and say, “Here am I; let me be Thine. Here is my
skill: use it. Here is my intellect: use it. Here is my power of
speech: use it. Here is my money: use it. Here is all, all I have and
all I am: let it all be Thine own, and help me to employ it for Thy
glory”?