FactFaithFeeling

Cautions - 2

There are five concluding cautions for the bringing forth of the inner life of faith. If we pay attention to these cautions, the result will be a life of holy joy and peace.

2. We must be possessed by an eager desire. There is a difference between wishing for a thing and willing it. In a single hour we may wish for a hundred differing objects, and forget them. But how different from this is the fixed determination, the settled purpose of the will!

The lad catches sight of some equipment for his sport, the student of a precious book, the lover of a rare and jewelled ornament which he covets for the one he loves. In each case the will is worked upon till it resolves to acquire at any cost.
Then privation and self-sacrifice and delay are cheerfully encountered. Nothing can extinguish or slacken the determination that follows hard after its quest.
So with us.

• We must hunger and thirst;
• we must be possessed by strong and passionate desire;
• we must be resolved even to use the strongest determination to take the Kingdom of Heaven.

• the hart pants for the waterbrooks - Psalm 42:1;
• Jacob will not let the angel go - Genesis 32:26;
• the widow troubles the unjust judge day and night - Luke 18: 1 - 5.

We too may have this strong desire if we will let the Spirit of God produce it within our hearts.

But the merchantman must be bent on seeking and finding the goodly pearl  - Matthew 13:45.
We must strive to enter the strait gate  - Matthew 7:13.
We must agonize (to use the Apostle's word) as the athlete for the crown  - 1 Corinthians 9:24 - 26.

Father,
teach me how to line up my strong desires with Your will,
so that what I desire will always please You,
in Jesus' name,
Amen.