“LABOURERS TOGETHER WITH GOD.”

These words seem to me to express the idea of true labour, such as God calls us to, and in the doing of which there is a great reward.  They imply that the living God has a work to do on earth, in men and by men; that in this work He has—­if I may so express it—­a deep personal interest, because it is one worthy of Himself, and for the advancement of His own glory, and the good and happiness of man.

Now, God wishes us to know this work, and to sympathise with Him in it.  He does not conceal from us what He wishes done, or what He himself is doing; nor obliges us to remain for ever blind as to His will and purposes regarding ourselves or others; so that, if we work at all, we must work according to our own wills only, and for our own purposes.  Instead of this, He reveals in His Word, by His Son, through His Spirit, and in the conscience, what His will is—­what He wishes us to be and do.  Nor does He say to us, “Learn my commands, and obey them; but seek not to know why I have so commanded.”  Were it impossible, indeed, to know why any command was given, the mere fact of its injunction would itself demand instant compliance; “but,” says our Lord, “I have not called you servants, but friends, for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth.”  The servant or slave does not occupy the place which the friend does.  The one hears only what is commanded; but the other, through personal acquaintance with the master, is enabled to sympathise with the righteousness and love in the command.  The friend not only knows what, as a servant, he must do, but sees how right and beautiful it is that he should be commanded so to do.  In like manner, we read that God made known His “ways” to Moses, but only His “acts” to the children of Israel.  This revelation, of principle and plan to His servant was indeed a speaking with him “face to face;” and thus does God speak to us now in these latter days by the grace and truth revealed in His Son.  And it is only when we thus know God’s work on earth, and when, from a will and character brought into harmony with His, we see how excellent the work is, that we can be, not labourers only, but “fellow-labourers” with God;—­not workers only, but “workers together with Him.”

Consider, for instance, the work of God in our own souls.  This is, as far as we ourselves are concerned, the most important work in the universe.  Upon it depends whether the universe shall be to us a heaven or a hell.  “What will a man give in exchange for his soul?” is a question which assumes that to the man himself nothing can be so valuable.  But has God any work to do in our souls?  Has He ever expressed any wish as to what He would have us believe, become, or enjoy, or revealed for what end or purpose He made our spirits?  Is there no wrong state or condition in us with which He is “angry” and “grieved,” and no right state with which He is “delighted,”