These are weighty words for all Christ’s servants, but we must be His servants in reality in order to enter into their deep significance.

If we are content to live a life of indolence and ease, a life of self-seeking and self-pleasing, it is impossible for us to understand such words or indeed to enter into any of those intense exercises of soul through which Christ’s true-hearted servants and faithful witnesses, in all ages, have been called to pass.

We find, invariably, that all those who have been most used of God in public have gone through deep waters in secret.

Paul could say to the Corinthians, “Death is at work in us, but life is at work in you” (2 Corinthians 4:12). Death working in the poor earthen vessel; but streams of life, heavenly grace, and spiritual power flowing into those to whom he ministered.

How the professing church has departed from the Divine reality of ministry! Where are the Pauls, the Gideons, and the Joshuas? Where are the deep heart-searchings and profound soul exercises which have characterized Christ’s servants in other days? Flippant, worldly, shallow, empty, self-sufficient, and self-indulgent are we! Need we wonder at the small results?

How can we expect to see life working in others, when we know so little about death working in us?

May the eternal Spirit stir us all up! May He work in us a more powerful sense of what it is to be true-hearted, single-eyed, devoted servants of the Lord Jesus Christ!

From prayer that asks that I may be

Sheltered from winds that beat on Thee,

From fearing when I should aspire,

From faltering when I should climb higher,

From silken self, O Captain, free

Thy soldier who would follow Thee.

From subtle love of softening things,

From easy choices, weakenings,

(Not thus are spirits fortified,

Not this way went the Crucified)

From all that dims Thy Calvary

O Lamb of God, deliver me.

Give me the love that leads the way,

The faith that nothing can dismay,

The hope no disappointments tire,

The passion that will burn like fire;

Let me not sink to be a clod:

Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God.

AMY WILSON CARMICHAEL

Write the death sentence upon self, that the power of resurrection life in Christ may shine forth!

Pressed beyond measure; yes, pressed to great length; Pressed so intensely, beyond my own strength; Pressed in my body and pressed in my soul, Pressed in my mind till the dark surges roll.

Pressure from foes, and pressure from dear friends. Pressure on pressure, till life nearly ends.

Pressed into knowing no helper but God; Pressed into loving His staff and His rod.

Pressed into liberty where nothing clings; Pressed into faith for impossible things.

Pressed into living my life for the Lord, Pressed into living a Christ-life outpoured.

The pressure of difficult times makes us value life. Every time our life is spared and given back to us after a trial, it is like a new beginning. We better understand its value and thereby apply ourselves more effectively for God and for humankind. And the pressure we endure helps us to understand the trials of others, equipping us to help them and to sympathize with them.

Some people have a shallowness about them. With their superficial nature, they lightly take hold of a theory or a promise and then carelessly tell of their distrust of those who retreat from every trial. Yet a man or woman who has experienced great suffering will never do this. They are very tender and gentle, and understand what suffering really means. This is what Paul meant when he said, “Death is at work in us” (2 Corinthians 4:12).

Trials and difficult times are needed to press us forward. They work in the way the fire in the hold of a mighty steamship provides the energy that moves the pistons, turns the engine, and propels the great vessel across the sea, even when facing the wind and the waves. A. B. Simpson

The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites.

Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?

We had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver.

The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.

Be instant in season, out of season.

Others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire.

Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.

Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Have faith in God.—Without faith it is impossible to please God.—With God all things are possible.

Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver?

My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear.—Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many or with them that have no power.

We should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead.