Most of us like things the way we are used to having them.... What is to be our attitude on the mission field? Are we free to try to have things the way we would like them...? Or ought we to attempt... to conform to the way of life of the people among whom we live?

We say we want to be like Christ.... But what do we mean by being like Christ? Are we not in danger of getting into our vision of it, merely an easy kind of life, a gentle piety, a dainty charity, a fashionable holiness, a pleasing service?

There are many manifestations of the self life which are not clearly sinful, but neither are they truly Christlike. ...this middle zone of self activity... must be... crucified in order to reach deep abiding union with God, where there is none of self and all of Christ Jesus.

God's face should be the first we see in the morning when we open our eyes. His voice should be the first we hear with its benediction of love and grace. He should be the first to whom we speak, lifting up our hearts in praise and in supplication.

Our Ishmaels exist because we listen to some voice other than that of the Holy Spirit. Our motives may be pure, and the cause laudable, but we are badly out of our depth when we lean on human wisdom and understanding to attempt the work of God.

There is no better way in the world to test every trait in a soul than by little things.... It is our unplanned, instinctive actions and words that reveal what we really are, not those large, conspicuous things for which we especially arm ourselves.

It seemed a waste of precious life when Jesus died so young, and in such shame.... He lost His life, but that seed became the world's hope and joy. We understand it now. Christianity is the outcome of that "waste." Heaven is the fruit of the Redeemer's sacrifice.

We must be subdued, not merely in our own opinion, not merely think ourselves subdued... but subdued so perfectly that the all-seeing eye of God can look us through, and the omniscient One knows that we are subdued.

Will you be to Christ the partner of His throne or a vomit-inducing emetic? A Militant or a Chocolate Christian? Will you fear or will you fight? Shall your brethren go to war and shall you sit here? When He comes, shall He find faith on the earth?

What is our daily cross? It is those things in our lives that produce suffering of body, mind, or heart. It is those things which in our poor judgment seem to hinder the easy flow of our religious life.... Were there no suffering at all, then there would be no cross at all.

What is the secret? When does the song begin? What is it that gives to the believer in God this quenchless joy? In the record of the opening of the temple by Hezekiah we find a sentence which suggests the answer.