Evening, December 11, edited from Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening

“It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.” — Colossians 3:24

To what special order of officials was this word spoken? Was it to kings who proudly boast a divine right? Ah, no! Too often do they serve themselves or Satan, and forget the God whose tolerance permits them to wear their caricature majesty for their short time. Does the apostle speak then to those so-called “right reverend fathers in God,” the bishops, or “the venerable, the archdeacons?” No, indeed, Paul knew nothing of these mere inventions of man. Not even to pastors and teachers, or to the wealthy and esteemed among believers, was this word spoken, but to servants, yes, and to slaves. As we still find today, the apostle found among the laboring crowds some of the Lord’s chosen: the journeymen, the day laborers, the domestic servants, the menial workers of the kitchen, and to them he says, “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.” This saying adds dignity to the weary routine of earthly employment, and sheds a halo around the humblest occupations. To wash feet may be servile, but to wash his feet is royal work. To unloose the shoe lace is poor employment, but to unloose the great Master’s shoe is a princely privilege. The shop, the barn, the scullery, and the smithy become temples when men and women do all to the glory of God! Then “divine service” is not a thing of only a few hours and few places, but all life becomes holiness to the Lord, and every place and thing, as consecrated as the tabernacle and its golden candlestick.

“Teach me, my God and King, in all things thee to see;

And what I do in anything to do it as to thee.

All may of thee partake, nothing can be so mean,

Which with this tincture, for thy sake, will not grow bright and clean.

A servant with this clause makes drudgery divine;

Who sweeps a room, as for thy laws, makes that and the action fine.”