"But what things were gain to me, those I
counted loss for Christ" (Philippians 3:7).
As far as our Father is concerned, the early and middle
years of the Christian life have to do primarily with our spiritual
development. Maturity must underlie all abiding effectiveness. Most of our
service during this time is learning how not to do it.
"Incalculable harm has been done to the
deeper spirituality of the Church, by the idea that when once we are saved the
using of the gifts in His service follows as a matter of course. No; for this
there is indeed needed very special grace. And the way in which the grace comes
is again that of sacrifice and surrender. We must see how all our gifts and
powers are, even though we be children of God, still defiled by sin, and under
the power of the old nature. We must feel that we cannot at once proceed to use
them for God's glory. We must first lay them at Christ's feet, to be accepted
and cleansed by Him.
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