Every once in a while, I come across a book that I have had for a long time, and I rediscover it. This morning was one of those times. I moved a large book that was impeding my shelf search for something, and tucked away in a corner were some small, but beautiful volumes entitled Light and Truth: Bible Thoughts and Themes, by Horatius Bonar.
Back in 2005, I was working remotely from South Carolina for the program I produced and co-hosted and was contacted by a publisher with some unique books. The small company was reproducing, in keepsake hardback form, spiritual treasures of the past. He told me about the project and promised to send me sample copies. The books I rediscovered this morning were some of those treasures. Simply put, these books are beautiful, both in appearance and in content.
The introduction, about the life and ministry of Horatius Bonar, alone was worth reading. What an incredible work he had. His character, by all testimony of those who knew him and were part of his church, shone with his love for his Savior. What touched me most was his love of the children in his parish and what some of the children later wrote about studying under him. The true measure of any pastor's work is found in his loving care for the little ones in his flock. Mr. Bonar passed away in 1889, but his works live on.
This morning, I read a chapter entitled, "The Holiness of Common Things." All things, when done in love of our Creator, are sanctified. The lowliest act, done to the glory of God, is embued with holiness. All, to the honor of the Lord. I wanted to share this excerpt, and I hope it is a great joy to you, as it was to me. (ALL of the content of the Light and Truth volumes is now available free online! See links below.)
"Thus the commonest of common things are selected to illustrate the great truth or fact of that day, viz., the universality of consecration. Nothing shall be left unsanctified. Everything shall be for God; everything shall glorify him; exhibiting the full meaning of the text, "Whether ye eat or drink, do all to the glory of God."
"It is not then the spiritual nature of the things themselves that is needed for the consecration. The things named are evidently chosen to prevent that mistake. It is of the holiness of things that are not in themselves spiritual that the prophet speaks. These common things we are to lift up out of their low position,--to ennoble and dignify them.
"And how is this to be done? Not by changing their nature; not by spiritualising them. But by the right use of them. By connecting them with God, and God with them. By refastening the link between the material and the spiritual; not by transforming the material into the spiritual. It is the right use of common things, in connection with God, that is the true consecration. They are not consecrated by some mysterious process, in order to their glorifying God; but the right use of them in the service of God is the true consecration.
"God is here dealing with us about common daily things; common, daily, and as men would say, carnal duties. He wants,--
"Holiness in our common works and words; our eating and drinking; our ploughing, and sowing, and reaping; holiness in the shop, holiness in the market-place; holiness in each room of the house; in journeying and in resting, in buying and selling; holiness in the railway carriage, and upon the highway; holiness in our reading, our conversation, and our letter-writing; holiness in our business, and our recreation; holiness in our mirth, in our feasts, in our ordinary intercourse. All our common works so done that God shall be glorified in them. Many forget all this. They think that a religious life should omit as many as possible of common duties, whereas it is by the right doing of these that we are to exemplify true religion. A religious life is not a life by itself, the life of a recluse or hermit; it is common life sanctified."
You can read the entire chapter here. The entire series of Light and Truth is linked at the bottom of that page! It's gold. Every word is worthwhile reading as Bonar expounds on passages from the Scriptures.
So as we go about our day's work, the mundane, sometimes tiresome and repetitive things we do for those in our care, men and women can see that these things, done in the strength of the Lord and to show forth our love for him, take on fresh meaning. And it gives us purpose and joy.
Painting above
Young Woman Peeling Apples
Artist: Nicolaes Maes (Dutch, Dordrecht 1634–1693 Amsterdam) Date: ca. 1655
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