November 9

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour; whom resist steadfast in the faith. 1 Peter 5:8. 9.

In this age of ours we need strong men, strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might, able to stand against the wiles of the devil, vigilant to fight against the powers of infidelity. We need men who are thoroughly convinced that what they confess is indeed the truth. They must receive Jesus with their whole heart and give it to Jesus. They must be men of holy zeal, energy, and enthusiasm, men who are not daunted by any difficulty that may arise in their path, men of a stout heart and true, who, turning from the paths of worldly ambition, cast the lot of their life unhesitatingly for Christ and His kingdom. We need men who will not falter or turn back, but who will bear the standard of Christ, the Gospel, into every city and town, every forest and plain, every vale and mountain, of this our glorious country, to every creature in the world. We need men who have the good will and are filled with zeal to do this for Christ's sake, who are willing to say in all sincerity: "For me to live is Christ"; men who are willing to dedicate their whole life to His service, willing to serve Him with all the powers of body and soul. Christ has need of thoroughly consecrated men; men in the world, but not of the world, who are like the gulf stream in the ocean. Such men we need to-day, — children of God, who go through the world without mixing with the surrounding element, but who retain their own peculiarity and identity, and spread the warm influence of their Christian personality round about them.

Oh, how much they will find to do in the service of their Master! And what power for good such men are! Who can measure the wholesome influence that goes out from them? Who, then, is willing to consecrate himself and his service to the Lord? Who will speak the truth without fear or favor, to high and low?

Prayer.

Do Thou grant grace, O God, that a firm foundation of the knowledge of Thy revealed truth be laid among us, so that it may become a living knowledge, which praises Thee by its fruits. Grant that we be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Let us watch and pray, be sober and vigilant, steadfast in the faith, separated from the world; for Thy Church needs men who belong to Thee and are guided by different principles and inspired by different motives than the unbelieving children of this world. Make us able also to conquer the self-righteous to whom the Gospel of free grace is a stumbling-block. Amen.

Boldly, my soul, no dangers fear, Thy Savior's arm is ever near; Rather than His dear name deny, Seek Thou His strength for Him to die.