A Good Example by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 30, 1870

A Good Example.

By Dudley Marvin Canright

The cross always seems exceedingly unpleasant, and hence we are inclined, when it is presented to us, to hesitate, and reason about it, to delay taking it up as long we can. By so doing we always give the enemy a great advantage over us.

In reading the history of Abraham I notice how very differently he acted. After the birth of Isaac it became necessary for Abraham to send Ishmael and Hagar away from his house. Abraham loved Ishmael, and it pained him exceedingly to be compelled to do this; but in the night the Lord appeared unto Abraham, and told him to send away Ishmael. “And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away.” Gen. 21:14.

This is a good example of obedience to God. “And Abraham rose up early in the morning,” and did what the Lord commanded him. He did not wait a few days to consider the matter whether he had better obey or not, but he went right about it. On another occasion his prompt obedience shows it still more conspicuously. Again the Lord appeared to him in the night and required him to go and offer up his only son Isaac. A greater sacrifice, a more painful duty, could not have been required of Abraham. Here if ever we might expect him to delay and falter, at least to take time to thoroughly consider the matter. But no, the record says, “And Abraham rose up early in the morning and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt-offering, and went to the place of which God had told him.” For this prompt obedience God greatly loved Abraham.

David also acted upon the same principle. Thus he said, “I made haste and delayed not to keep thy commandments.” Ps. 119:16. The apostle also acted upon the same noble principle of prompt obedience to God. When he was convicted of his duty, he said, “Immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood,” Gal. 1:16, but took up his cross promptly.

Prompt obedience is what the Lord greatly delights in. How often we see men and women, who are conscious of the claims of God’s law, hesitating and waiting to take up the cross. By such a course they become as weak as water, and very generally never take it up at all. D. M. CANRIGHT.