By continuous effort to lead into all truth, by intensity of
endeavor that can only be represented by groanings that cannot be
worded in human speech, the perfection of saints is sought.
And in the final glorification of those saints every man will say
nothing of his own efforts, but all the praise will be unto him who
hath redeemed us unto God, and washed us in his blood.
To what extent, then, may we expect God will lend his forces to work
out our plans? First, in so far as those forces have to do with the
maturing and perfecting of our character they become his plans. No
energy will be withheld. All our plans should be such. The end in
character may often be attained as well by failure of our plans as by
success. God has to choose the poor in this world's things, rich in
faith, to do his great work. And he has to make "the best laid schemes
o' mice and men gang aft a-gley" to get the desired outcome of
character. He is then working with, not against, us. He would rather
have any star for his crown of glory than tons of perishable gold.
But outside of our plans and work for ourselves what cooperation may we
expect in our plans and work for others?
Every preacher knows that for spiritual work in saving others the word
of the Lord is true, "Without me ye can do nothing." There must be an
outpouring of the Spirit or there is no Pentecost.
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