Are you willing to be offered for the work of the faithful - to pour out your life blood as a libation on the sacrifice of the faith of others? Or do you say - "I am not going to be offered up just yet, I do not want God to choose my work. I want to choose the scenery of my own sacrifice; I want to have the right kind of people watching and saying, 'Well done.'"

It is one thing to go on the lonely way with dignified heroism, but quite another thing if the line mapped out for you by God means being a doormat under other people's feet. Suppose God wants to teach you to say, "I know how to be abased" - are you ready to be offered up like that? Are you ready to be not so much as a drop in a bucket - to be so hopelessly insignificant that you are never thought of again in connection with the life you served?

Are you willing to spend and be spent; not seeking to be ministered unto, but to minister? Some saints cannot do menial work and remain saints because it is beneath their dignity.

Great physical force is stored in the depths of the earth, in places such as coal mines. Coal was produced by the tremendous heat that burned the ancient forests. In the same way, spiritual force is stored in the depths of our being and is brought about by the very pain we cannot understand.

Someday we will see that “the plunder taken in battle” from our trials was simply preparing us to become like Great-heart in Pilgrim’s Progress, so we too could lead our fellow pilgrims triumphantly through trials to the city of the King. But may we never forget that the source of learning to help others must be the experience of victorious suffering. Whining and complaining about our pain never does anyone any good.

Paul never carried the gloom of a cemetery around with him, but a chorus of victorious praise. The more difficult his trial, the more he trusted and rejoiced, shouting from the very altar of sacrifice. He said, “Even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you” (Philippians 2:17). Lord, help me today to draw strength from everything that comes to me! DAYS OF HEAVEN UPON EARTH

He placed me in a little cage, Away from gardens fair; But I must sing the sweetest songs Because He placed me there. Not beat my wings against the cage If it’s my Maker’s will, But raise my voice to heaven’s gate And sing the louder still!

The leading symbol of our Christian faith is not an easy chair or a feather-bed: it is a Cross. If we would be His disciples, let us be prepared to live dangerously, to take up the Cross and carry it into the teeth of opposition.

God is at perfect liberty to waste us if He chooses.

When the fight seems fierce and you are tempted to be weary and disconsolate, remember that in the interest of His cause your Leader expects you to turn a glad face to the world— to rejoice and be exceeding glad!

I have shamed Thee; craven-hearted I have been Thy recreant knight; Own me yet, O Lord, albeit Weeping whilst I fight!

“Nay,” He said, “Wilt thou yet shame Me? Wilt thou shame thy knightly guise? I would have my angels wonder At thy gladsome eyes.”

Need’st thou pity, knight of Jesus? Pity for thy glorious hest? Oh, let God and men and angels See that thou are blest!

SUSO