The Supreme Motive In Every Minister's Life, Should Be Love To CHRIST.

The Master taught me this in 
the washing of the disciples' feet
(J.R. Miller, in a letter to a young pastor)


Cultivate love for CHRIST--
and then live for your work. It goes without 
saying that the supreme motive in every 
minister's life, should be love to CHRIST. 

'The love of CHRIST constrains me!' 
was the keynote of Paul's marvelous ministry. 

But this is not all. If a man is 
swayed by the love of CHRIST--
then he must also have in his heart 
love for his fellow men. 

If I were to give you what I believe 
is one of the secrets of my own life, 
it is that I have always loved people. 
I have had an intense desire all of my life, 
to help people in every way; not merely 
to help them into the church--
but to help them in their personal lives, 
in their struggles and temptations, their 
quest for the best things in character. 

I have loved other people with an 
absorbing devotion. I have always felt 
that I would go anywhere, do any personal 
service, and help any individual, even 
the lowliest.The Master taught me this 
in the washing of the disciples' feet, 
which showed HIS heart in being willing 
to do anything to serve HIS friends. 

If you want to have success as a 
winner of men, as a helper of people, 
as a pastor of little children, as the 
friend of the tempted and imperiled--
then you must love them and have 
a sincere desire to do them good. 

It seems to me that your secret of 
success will be, not in developing 
the professional ideals, nor in 
following any rules which you 
have learned in the seminary--

but in caring for people with such 
intensity, that you will be ready to make 
any self-sacrifice to do them good. 


[Editor's note: All who knew him marveled as they saw how full
 Miller's days were of varied service. Talmage said of Miller, 
"I doubt if there is a living minister in all the world who has done 
a greater work than Dr. Miller. He is the marvel of the age--
he has done the work of ten men! While others were attending 
banquets or sitting by their firesides--his tireless feet have been 
tramping the streets of the city calling upon the sick, and like Paul, 
carrying the gospel into many homes. Of all the great ministers of 
the past, not one has wielded greater influence for good. The whole 
city should be thankful for the noble life of this wonderful man!" 

Miller once said, "Most ministers have their 'free Mondays' and their 
evenings for concerts and that type of thing--or relaxing at home. 
I give up every hour to ministry of some sort. I am very busy at 
the office all day--people are there with their troubles all the time. 
In the evenings I go out visiting the sick and others. At about 9:30, 
I return home and have an hour with my family before they scatter off to bed."]

     ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

GraceGems has published Arthur Pink's outstanding 2 page article, 
"Taking the Lord's Name in Vain!"