May 16

Never deny God anything

“The Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him” (Acts 5:32).
“Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice” (1 Sam. 15:22).

The fulfillment of irksome duties is the test of sincere obedience. When pleasure and service are identical, it is easy to be diligent in heavenly business. But when flesh and blood rebel against a known duty, it is time to invoke the aid of divine grace. Every personal feeling and private affection must give way before the imperative demands of our Lord and Master. Contention for the faith is far less pleasant than communion with Christ; but the neglect of the precept may involve the withdrawal of the privilege.
—C. H. Spurgeon.


Florence Nightingale said: “If I could give you information of my life it would be to show how a woman of very ordinary ability has been led by God in strange and unaccustomed paths to do in His service what He has done in her. And if I could tell you all, you would see how God has done all, and I nothing. I have worked hard, very hard, that is all; and I have never refused God anything.”

It seems to me we need to ask more seriously than in bygone days, what is really the will and command of our blessed Lord and to set about obeying Him, not merely in attempting to obey. I do not know that we are told anywhere in the Bible to try to do anything. “We must try to do the best we can,” is a very common expression; but I remember some years ago, after a remark of that kind, looking very carefully through the New Testament to see under what circumstances the disciples were told to try to do anything. I was surprised that I did not find any instance. Then I went through the Old Testament with the same result. There are many commands apparently impossible to obey, but they were all definite commands.
God gives His Spirit, not to those who long for Him, not to those who pray for Him, not to those who desire to be filled always; but He does give His Holy Spirit to them that obey Him.
—Hudson Taylor.

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