The Personal Touch | Page 7

being directed for
Christ or against Him; in the interests of humanity or contrary to them.
Every child of God must reach the place where he will say, Not my will,
but Thine, O God, be done; not my path but Thine, O Christ, be
travelled; not my ambitions realized but Thine own purposes in me
fulfilled, my Heavenly Father. The progress of such a life is peace, the
consummation of it the most perfect victory.
When I am dying how glad I shall be That the lamp of my life has been
blazed out for Thee. I shall be glad in whatever I gave, Labour, or
money, one sinner to save;
I shall not mind that the path has been rough, That Thy dear feet led the

way is enough. When I am dying how glad I shall be, That the lamp of
my life has been blazed out for Thee.
In the picture of the archer and his arrow, there is an illustration of
derived energy. The arrow placed upon the string and drawn back by
the archer speeds away to do the master's will. It has no power in itself;
it flies forward in the master's strength. God is always seeking an outlet
for His power along the line of service. It is when our lives are
surrendered to Him that victory is possible. A friend of mine took for
his year text the expression "I believe, and I belong." We might well
add, "I live and I love," and because I do both I will obey. Ole Bull
once played his violin in the presence of a company of University
students. He charmed them, they knew at once that they were in the
presence of a master. When he was finished playing, one who was
present said to him, "What is the secret of your power, have you a
special bow, or is it in the instrument you use?" Ole Bull responded, "I
think it is in neither, but it has always seemed to me that I had power in
playing because I waited to play until I had an inspiration, when my
soul was overflowing with music and I could not stay the torrent that
was back of me; it is then that I take my violin and the music flows
forth." If we were always passive in the hands of the Master He would
show forth in and through us His marvellous grace and power.
The polishing of the shaft is always necessary. God uses all our
experiences to equip us for life. Parental influence; the power of prayer
as offered in our behalf by others; the education given us in the schools;
the disappointments of life which seem almost to crush us; the sorrows
which are indescribable; all these are like the touch of a master's hand,
and forth from such a school and such a training we ought to come
prepared to do the will of God.
The arrow was carried in the quiver and the quiver was near to the
master's side. Nearness to God is essential if we are to be used of God.
He chooses the vessel nearest His hand. This has always been true. The
apostles, martyrs, missionaries, and saints who have finished their work
and have gone on before, as well as those who live to-day, prove the
statement that we must be in closest relationship with Christ if we are

to be entrusted with the gift of power. It is when we are in the secret
place of the Most High that we learn God's will concerning us. Many
people do not know God's will because they live too much in the bustle
and confusion of life. God speaks His best messages to us in whispers,
not in thunder tones, and we must be still to know that He is God and
study to be quiet that we may go forth from quietness to conquer. The
practice of the quiet hour is the secret of many a soul's victorious
service.
Shut in with God alone, I spend the quiet hour; His mercy and His love
I own, And seek His saving power
Shut in with God alone; In meditation sweet, My spirit waits before the
throne, Bowed low at Jesus' feet.
Shut in with God alone; I praise His holy name, Who gave the Saviour
to atone For all my sin and shame.
Shut in with God alone; And yet I have no fear, I rest beneath the
cleansing blood, And perfect love is here.
CHAPTER IV
Starting Right
"Every one over against his house," Nehemiah iii. 28. The first part of
the Book of Nehemiah gives us a striking picture of destruction, and as
we look about us we see a city in ruins: the walls are