Plod on, plod on. If I only build one little piece of a building in my life, and nothing more, if it constructed with gold, silver, or precious stones, it would a good work for a man to do; of such precious stuff as that, to build even one little corner which will not show, is a worthy service. It will not be talked of much, but it will last. There is the point: it will last. “Establish the work of our hands for us-yes, establish the work of our hands.” If we are not builders in an established church, it is of little use to try at all. What God establishes will stand, but what men build without his establishment will certainly come to nothing. “Oh, that you would bless me!”
Sunday-school teacher, is this your prayer? Tract distributor, local preacher, whatever you may be, dear brother or sister, whatever your form of service, be sure to ask the Lord that you may not be one of those builders using fake mortar that only requires a certain amount of frost and weather to make it crumble to pieces. Be determined, that if you cannot build a cathedral, to build at least one part of the marvelous temple that God is building for eternity, which will outlast the stars.
I have one thing more to mention before I bring this sermon to a close. The blessings of God’s grace are true blessings, which in all seriousness we ought to seek after.
By these marks shall you know them. True blessings, are such blessings that come from the pierced hand; blessings that come from Calvary’s bloody tree, streaming from the Savior’s wounded side – your pardon, your acceptance, your spiritual life: the bread that is true food, the blood that is true drink – your oneness to Christ, and all that comes of it – these are the true blessings. Any blessing that comes as the result of the Spirit’s work in your soul is a true blessing; though it humbles you, though it strips you, though it kills you, it is a true blessing. Though the plow goes over and over your soul, and the deep plow blades cut into your very heart; though you are maimed and wounded, and left for dead, yet if the Spirit of God does it, it is a true blessing. If he convinces you of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment, even though you have not up till now been brought to Christ, it is a true blessing. Anything that he does, accept it; do not be dubious of it; but pray that he may continue his blessed processes in your soul. Whatsoever leads you to God is a true blessing. Riches may not do it. There may be a golden wall between you and God. Health will not do it: even the strength and marrow of your bones may keep you at a distance from your God. But anything that draws you nearer to him is a true blessing. What if even it is a cross that raises you? Yet if it raises you to God it shall be a true blessing. Anything that reaches into eternity, with a preparation for the world to come, anything that we can carry across the river, the holy joy that is to blossom in those fields beyond the swelling flood, the pure cloudless love of the brotherhood which is to be the atmosphere of truth forever – anything of this kind that has the eternal immutable mark on it – is a true blessing. And anything which helps me to glorify God is a true blessing. If I am sick, and that helps me to praise him, it is a true blessing. If I am poor, and I can serve him better in poverty than in wealth, it is a true blessing. If I am treated with contempt, I will rejoice in that day and leap for joy, if it is for Christ’s sake – it is a true blessing. Yes, my faith shakes off the disguise, snatches the covering from the blessing, and counts it all joy in various trials for the sake of Jesus and for the reward that he has promised. “Oh, that we may be blessed!”
Now, I send you away with these three words:
“Search.” See whether the blessings are true blessings, and do not be satisfied unless you know that they are from God: signs of his grace, and an assurance of his saving purpose.
“Weigh” – that shall be the next word. Whatever you have, weigh it on the scale, and ascertain if it is a true blessing, conferring such grace upon you that causes you to abound in love, and to abound in every good word and work.
And lastly, “Pray.” So pray that this prayer may mingle with all your prayers, that whatsoever God grants or whatever he withholds from you may be truly blessed. Is it a joyful time for you? O that Christ may soften your joy, and prevent the intoxication of earthly blessedness from leading you aside from a close walk with him! In the night of sorrow, pray that he will truly bless you, lest the wormwood also intoxicate you and make you drunk, lest your afflictions should make you barely think of him. Pray for the blessing, which having, you are blissfully rich, or which lacking, you are poor and destitute, though plenty fills your store. “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.” But “Oh, that you would bless me! Amen.
“This article originally appeared here at Bible Bulletin Board.”
