By the miracle of Redemption Saul of Tarsus was turned in one second from a strong-willed, intense Pharisee into a humble, devoted slave of the Lord Jesus.

There is nothing miraculous about the things we can explain. We command what we are able to explain, consequently it is natural to seek to explain. It is not natural to obey; nor is it necessarily sinful to disobey.

There is no moral virtue in obedience unless there is a recognition of a higher authority in the one who dictates. It is possibly an emancipation to the other person if he does not obey. If one man says to another - 'You must,' and - 'You shall,' he breaks the human spirit and unfits it for God.

A man is a slave for obeying unless behind his obedience there is a recognition of a holy God. Many a soul begins to come to God when he flings off being religious, because there is only one Master of the human heart, and that is not religion but Jesus Christ. But woe be to me if when I see Him I say - I will not. He will never insist that I do, but I have begun to sign the death warrant of the Son of God in my soul. When I stand face to face with Jesus Christ and say - I will not, He will never insist; but I am backing away from the recreating power of His Redemption. It is a matter of indifference to God's grace how abominable I am if I come to the light; but woe be to me if I refuse the light (see John 3:19-21).

Is the work God’s work? Has He called you to do it, and equipped you for it? Be sure on these points. Take time to consider and pray and find what the will of the Lord is. Then, when the difficulties have been considered and the needs fairly measured, and the clear conviction remains that God calls you to rise and build, then, put your hand to the plow and never look back.

Power to endure to the end—patience to outlast all discouragements—zeal that will not die out, and that will enkindle the zeal of others—all these are given and secured to him who knows that the work and call are from God.

For every worker and every work in the kingdom of God the principles are the same. The only way to avoid being repelled and discouraged in the work, so as to give it up in irritation, disgust or despair, is to get the work put upon the right lines from the very start. These must begin in the secret place of the Most High—the Holy of Holies—alone with God. They must proceed to the Holy Place, for the light and strength contained therein—the guidance and equipment needed. Then, and not till then can they safely come out, their success secure and their permanence established, because they are thus truly “wrought in God” (John 3:21 KJV). H UBER T BROOKE

While the yoke of the Lord Jesus is easy and His burden light, nevertheless the furrow that He calls us to undertake is not always by any means easy plowing. There is no yoke that fits so smoothly and handily as His, but there is no work that requires more steady trudging and persistent faithfulness than His. Three stages of that work are strikingly set forth by Hudson Taylor when he says: “Commonly there are three stages in work for God: Impossible, Difficult, Done!”

Said General William Booth, “God loves with a special love the man who has a passion for the impossible.” Are you confronting today the impossible in work for God? Praise Him for that because you are in a way to discover the blessing of finding that work difficult and then to experience the deep joy of finding it done, by the same Lord who started you on the furrow.

Am I Thy friend? And canst Thou count on me, Lord, to be true to Thee? Canst Thou depend On sympathy and help of mine, In purpose, aim, Or work of Thine, And trust me with the honor of Thy name?