June 23

"The voice of one that crieth."—Isaiah 40:3.

THE voice of one that crieth—it is what I fain would be.

Simply a voice, not a personality that obtrudes itself and makes prominent its presence and importance. I would not go to my Lord's work in my own vaunted wisdom and my own fancied strength. I would be humbled and emptied. I would be nothing, if He is All. Let me be only an ambassador and servant, uttering the message of my Master and King. Let me be only a vessel, which holds and conveys the Water of everlasting life. Let me be only a voice, whose tones and syllables and utterances are taught by my Saviour, and are concerned with Him, and sound forth His praise and seek His glory.

Yet a distinct and individual voice, not a mere echo and reminiscence. I would not catch up, and appropriate, and reiterate just what others round about me are saying, or just what those who have gone before me have handed down. I would have a clear accent of my own. I would have a definite and unmistakable language. My King has had His secrets for me, for me apart from my brothers and sisters in the family; and these secrets should give their distinctive aroma and perfume to the gospel I speak. The things which I have seen and heard—I myself; that which I beheld, and my hands handled, concerning the Word of Life: that I would declare to others also, that they may have fellowship with me; yea, and my fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.

The voice of one that crieth—by God's grace I shall write the designation over all my history.