March 1

Ministering circumstances

“I am among you as he that serveth” (Luke 22:27).
“Yea, every pot in Jerusalem . . . shall be holiness unto the Lord of hosts” (Zech. 14:21).

Through whatever I am to live, I live Christ; I set upon everything the imprint of my Lord! Nothing is allowed to become an alien minister. No circumstance is allowed to raise the flag of revolt. Bengel made every circumstance in his life pay tribute to Christ. Let me quote a little extract from an exquisite little book of Thomas Boston’s, whose life was abounding in labors: “Learn that heavenly chemistry of extracting some spiritual thing out of earthly things.


To this end endeavor after a heavenly frame, which will, as is recorded of the philosopher’s stone, turn every metal into gold. When the soul is heavenly, it will even scrape jewels out of a dunghill.” All of which means that a man in Christ can make his adverse environment ideal. He can make his disappointments his ministers. He can make his adversities the King’s witnesses.―J. H. Jowett.

Lord, of all pots and pans and things,
Since I’ve no time to be
A saint by doing lovely things
Or watching late with Thee,
Or dreaming in the twilight,
Or storming Heaven’s gates,
Make me a saint by getting meals,
Or washing up the plates.

Although I must have Martha’s hands
I have a Mary mind;
And when I black the boots and shoes,
Thy sandals, Lord, I find.
Thou Who didst love to give men food,
In room or by the sea,
Accept this service that I do―
I do it unto Thee.
—An English Servant Girl.

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