A GOOD SOLDIER by John G. Woolley

Pacific Press Publishing Company · OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA · Oct 11, 1899

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 25, No. 41.

A GOOD SOLDIER.

By John G. Woolley

I BELIEVE there is only one way for "a good soldier of Jesus Christ" to make God's will his own, and that is, to obey Him.

The tip-top, present certainty of the business is that one can obey. That is the fact, and therefore the doctrine, and therefore the essence of duty.

There was never a military recruit so raw as to go mooning about for a way to make the captain's will his will while he was refusing to obey orders. What can a soldier do?—Obey. What can a Christian do?—Obey. What was the supreme thing that Jesus did?—Obey.

"The times and the seasons" are in the hands of God.

How shall you make God's will your will? There are three ways:— First: Do it. Second: Do it. Third: Do it.

For love: "If any man love Me he will keep My words." For knowledge: "If any man will do His will, he shall know." For truth: "What is that to thee? follow thou."

"And the result?"

After all is done, your will shall reach its perihelion when you are lying face down in some Gethsemane and whispering to its stones, not thanks for your perfect at-onement with your Father, but a submissive, "Nevertheless, not my will, but Thine be done;" while those upon whose love and help you most depended are close by—peacefully snoring.—John G. Woolley.