January 24

"Woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel."—1 Corinthians 9:16.

YES, woe is unto me!

My own spiritual health is sure to suffer. I cannot conceal the glad news within my breast without forfeiting and losing very much. It is by distributing it, and by no other way, that this wealth will abide with me and will grow from more to more.

"A man there was, though some did count him mad, The more he cast away the more he had."

And other souls perish when I am reticent. They are standing on the brink of the precipice, and there is a gulf of darkness below. Is it kind in me, is it just and right, not to hasten to their relief? When I see the folk, "bound who should conquer, slaves who should be kings," then the intolerable longing should thrill me—

"Oh to save these! to perish for their saving! Die for their life, be offered for them all!"

Their blood is on my head so long as I am silent.

And Christ is wounded and defrauded of His due, while I am not a herald and ambassador of His Evangel. He must be sorely disappointed in me for whom He has done such great things. He will be deprived of some servants and brethren who might have been His, had it not been for my false modesty and my foolish pride and my most culpable cowardice. I am robbing my King of pearls and rubies and sapphires which should be flashing in His crown.

O Lord, open Thou my lips; and my mouth shall show forth Thy praise.