WHAT ARE YOU SET FOR?

WHAT ARE YOU SET FOR?

You are in your own little kingdom again. What is the sum of it? What are you set for? When the Lord is the object before the heart, all goes right. He is ours, Christ is ours, and we receive of Him as we look to Him. It is simply wonderful how we derive from Him. The only way to draw from Him is to look to Him. We possess what we see by faith. Doubtless there is always much to be overcome in order that we may see; the things that intervene must be removed. Jacob must halt before he can be an Israel for blessing; his eye must be simply on the Blesser.

The principle is the same always. “Come, take up the cross, and follow me” (Mark 10: 21). There is no such thing as the flesh following Christ; and hence, to follow Him, we must cast away the old garment. In seeking the Lord I discover the things in my way. Long ago, in the country, we used to see what we called schooling. We would propose to reach a certain place in a straight line, not knowing the ditches, or rivers, or walls which lay between; but all the obstacles were to test the mettle of ourselves and of our horses. What are you set for?

^[p. 287] Are you ready for the schooling, in order to follow the Lord? He represents us before God, and He would enable us to represent Him before the world, if we had our eye simply upon Him. Have you purpose of heart to follow Him? Are you in the saddle? Do not waste your time in desiring; “the soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing” (Proverbs 13: 4). One step is worth an age of longing, or even praying; for sometimes prayers are made an excuse for not acting. It is a great comfort that if your heart is set on coming to Christ, and you begin the race, it will surely lead to Him fully in the long run.