Have you ever read George Eliot’s poem called “Stradivarius”? Stradivari was the famous old violin maker whose violins, nearly two centuries old, are almost worth their weight in gold today. Says Stradivari in the poem: If my hand slacked, I should rob God—since He is fullest good, Leaving a blank instead of violins. He could not make Antonio Stradivari’s violins Without Antonio.

You are God’s opportunity in your day. He has waited for ages for a person just like you. If you refuse Him, then God loses His opportunity which He sought through you; and He will never have another, for there will never be another person on the earth just like you.

Bring to God your gift, my brother, He’ll not need to call another, You will do; He will add His blessing to it, And the two of you will do it, God and you. R. E. NEIGHBOUR

Get taken clear out into the purpose of God and let Him lade you with merchandise for others.

We find scores of people in middle life who are in the unhappy position of doing everyday work which they hate and which does not express the personality, when each one might have done brilliantly in another sphere if he had given a day’s prayerful thought to a decision which affected half a century.

Jeremiah was young and felt a natural shrinking when sent upon a great errand by the Lord; but He who sent him would not have him say, "I am a child." What he was in himself must not be mentioned but lost in the consideration that he was chosen to speak for God.

He had not to think out and invent a message nor to choose an audience: he was to speak what God commanded and speak where God sent him, and this he would be enabled to do in strength not his own.

Is it not so with some young preacher or teacher who may read these lines? God knows how young you are and how slender are your knowledge and experience; but if He chooses to send you, it is not for you to shrink from the heavenly call.

God will magnify Himself in our feebleness. If you were as old as Methuselah, how much would your years help you? If you were as wise as Solomon, you might be equally as willful as he.

Keep you to your message, and it will be your wisdom; follow your marching orders, and they will be your discretion.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

The only wise God.

Be not wise in thine own eyes.

Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord.

Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

All things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.