PREPARATION FOR THE WORK.
By S. N. Haskell
God does not call men to work for him without fitting them for his work, if they will allow him to do so. They may refuse to be benefited by his efforts to instruct them, but it is nevertheless true that he does give them an opportunity and means of preparation to fit themselves for his work. It is not for the honor of God that men should enter into his work till they are prepared to do it in a manner he can approve. “ When we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom ; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus, whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.” Col. 1 : 28, 29. God gave to Isaiah a vision of heavenly glory. When he had seen it he cried out, “ Woe is me ! for I am undone ; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips ; for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” Isa. 6 : 5. Upon this, one of the seraphim took a live coal from off the altar and laid it upon his lips and said, “Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.” Then he heard the Lord make this inquiry, “ Whom shall I send, and who will go for us ?” And thus he records his response : “ Then said I, here am I, send me.” The Lord then bade him go forth to fulfill his solemn commission. This teaches us an important lesson. Before men go to work for God they must have this work first wrought within themselves. When the live coal from off the altar had touched the lips of Isaiah, his iniquity was purged. Then he could speak for God, for he had something to say, and he was fitted to say it in a manner that God would accept. God does not want men to go out to labor for him until they have had their iniquity taken away. No man can lead others to Christ till he has first become personally acquainted with him ; neither can he present the truth acceptably without having first felt its saving power in his own heart. Wherever selfishness exists, the work of God will be marred. It is not enough that the truth should be presented ; it must be presented from pure motives. The honor of God and the salvation of men are the only reasons which should prompt the acts of those engaging in the missionary work. When they labor from any other motive God will not accept their work. Whatever is done to be seen of men or to exalt self, will have no reward from the God of Heaven. Before we can successfully work for God we must be soundly converted ; when our hearts are right in his sight our motives will be pure before him. We shall not then seek our ease and worldly interests, nor the praise of men, but shall seek only the honor which comes from God. For this we will cheerfully bear burdens, make sacrifices, and suffer privations without one word of complaint. God will regard what men do with such motives as these. Such acts will certainly bear fruit. It is no light thing to work for God. The sacredness of the work cannot be over estimated. God will not be trifled with. He sees through all disguises and he detects the most secret motives of the heart. The action is valued according to the motive which prompts it, and all our actions are weighed in the balances of God's sanctuary. Those who name the name of Christ must depart from all iniquity. None must bear the vessels of the Lord without being themselves clean in his sight. Who, then, is sufficient for these things ?