THE REASONABLENESS OF GOD'S DEMANDS.
By W. W. Prescott
We are told to present our bodies a living sacrifice unto God, which, it is said, is a reasonable service. I propose to give a few reasons why it is our reasonable service to give or consecrate all our active powers to God, which I understand to be the meaning of the phrase, “present your bodies a living sacrifice.” In the first place, all we have and are we owe to God. I make this a general proposition covering all cases. If we have health it is through his favor that we are permitted to enjoy it. If we hold positions of honor or trust, and fill them well, we owe it to his goodness which has kept us in the right path and granted us the privileges necessary to fit us for these places. If we possess happiness, that great boon for which all the world is seeking in one way or another, it is the gift of God. If our lines have fallen unto us in pleasant places, and our cup runneth over with blessings, from whom can these blessings come but from God? And so in whatever situation we are, we can trace the hand of a power greater than human “whence all our blessings flow.” But God's goodness is not shown toward us in prosperity alone. When adversity comes, and dark clouds seem to hide him from us, still through some rift his mercy will shine forth, proving to us that we are not forgotten, and that his love for us is ever the same. These blessings enumerated are common to all, whether they are peculiarly his children or not; for great mercies are not withheld even from those who will not remember him to serve him. He causeth the sun to shine upon the evil and the good, and sendeth rain upon the just and the unjust. But all these reasons, which are good in their place, fall into insignificance when we think of the one great reason,—God's love to us as manifested in the gift of his Son. We are told, and with all sincerity believe, that “greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends,” who are supposed to be his equals; but what shall we say of the love which has sacrificed the life of an only Son for those who are immeasurably inferior to Him? Well might this be called wondrous love. But this has been done for all, the rich and the poor, the high and the low, all classes and grades, without distinction. And to those who accept this sacrifice, what especial blessings are granted! They are received into the family of God, and made “heirs of God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ.” To what? to much property and a high position in society? to all that the world calls good or great? No; but to “an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away.” Through life they are kept as in the hollow of his hand; and when they walk through the valley of the shadow of death, they fear no evil. Are not these blessings worth striving for? But what is it to consecrate ourselves to God? Is it not simply to obey the mandates of a good and wise Sovereign, who has our welfare ever in mind? Is it not a privilege granted to those who cannot keep themselves to give themselves over to his keeping power? If we had been told to ask what we would, should we have had the hardihood to demand so much as this? And yet all this is offered to us, and urged upon us. Surely, God's demands are reasonable, and his law is holy, just, and good.