p. 8 | Representative Service by Albert Weeks

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 15, 1916

Representative Service

By Albert Weeks

ALBERT WEEKS

The work of God among men is a representative service. Our Lord Jesus Christ set the example of this kind of work. He says, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.” “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” John 5:19, 30. Absolutely unselfish, the Saviour works for the human race. With his full consent the Father gave him his work. Faithfully he went about that work, seeking not his own will, ease, or comfort, but only the will of the Father, knowing that that will best accomplish the salvation of the human family. And as we accept the instruction of the Lord Jesus Christ and seek to do his will, we are doing the Father’s will also, and honoring his

name. How careful we ought to be, then, really to represent the Lord Jesus Christ in our lives.

The Saviour prayed for his followers: “As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.” John 17:18. As actual representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ we accept the call to service. How true are we to that trust? Do we serve the Lord or ourselves? Hear the Saviour pray, “I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” Verses 15-17. Will that prayer be answered in us? Our own will is the pivot upon which our course will turn. Our Lord says, “If any man willeth to do his will, he shall know of the teaching, whether it is of God, or whether I speak from myself.” John 7:17, A. R. V. On the other hand he says, “Ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” John 5:40.

When we seek divine help, the Holy Spirit is sent to our assistance. He comes as the representative of the Lord Jesus Christ, and gives us just the help we need in representative service. The Saviour says of the Spirit, “When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth: for he shall not speak from himself; but what things soever he shall hear, these shall he speak. . . . He shall glorify me: for he shall take of mine, and shall declare it unto you.” John 16:13, 14, A. R. V.

Willing to do his will, and seeking the Holy Spirit’s guidance and power, we are enabled to be true to the Lord and faithful in his service as his representatives. The Saviour says, “Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, that will I do. If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth: whom the world cannot receive.” “The Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said unto you.” John 14:13-17, 26.

Thus equipped, what is to hinder our being true representatives of our Lord? Only self and Satan stand in the way. By dying to self the first is removed. “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me.” Matt. 16:24, A. R. V. Thus the Saviour tells us how to begin work. And we can defeat Satan by resisting him in the power of the Spirit of God. “Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7, A. R. V.

The enemy may lay his plans broad and deep to destroy us, but the power of the Holy Spirit is sufficient. Thus we read, “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.” Isa. 59:19. Blessed and mighty is the help we get when we seek him with humility of heart and living faith.

*Omer, Mich.