October 29

"But Ruth clave unto her."—Ruth 1:14.

LET me be steadfastly minded, as Ruth was, to go with the people of God.

What the world greatly needs is a Christian whose mind is made up, whose life is rock-firm and decided, whose accents are those of a man not ashamed to confess his Lord. There is so much religion that is indeterminate, neutral, inefficient, hardly distinguishable from the thoughts and ways of the majority, wielding scarcely any spiritual influence and power. So long as there are reservations, qualifying clauses, unhallowed regions in my time and thought, so long shall I work no deliverance in the earth. Either "all in all or not at all"—that is how it must be between me and my divine King.

Naturalists tell us about the protective colouring in the animal kingdom—how beasts and birds and insects take on the hues and tints of their surroundings, and thus escape notice and danger. Is there not too much of this protective colouring in the kingdom of our God and His Christ? A little more singularity, a little more fearlessness, a little more abandon, is much to be desired. It would save myself from many a risk and fall. It would impress men and women with the reality of my religion. Henceforward, like Ruth the Moabite girl, like Jesus the Son of God, I would set my face steadfastly to go up to Bethlehem and to Jerusalem. I would not turn aside. I would not look back. I would always glorify my blessed Master.

The world laughs at the men of one idea, and does not like their earnestness. But they are the world's benefactors and princes, for all its scorn.