Walk in All Humility
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because we see errors in the characters of others. If we discern their
faults and inconsistencies, then we are to see the sinfulness of similar
things in our own characters, and from these things we are to learn not
to practise the unchristlike conduct of any man. We should remember
that Jesus discerns all these defects, and is more wounded and grieved
than we possibly can be, because His children do not represent His
own character to the world, but in some things they represent the
impatience, the fretfulness, the malice, the accusing spirit of the great
deceiver. What could hurt the heart of Christ more than to be thus
wounded and put to open shame in the person of those who claim to
be His children? Then when you see wrong in any one, pity them, and
say, I will never do after their works, and make Christ ashamed of me.
All self-righteousness must be given up, for we have no righteous-
ness of ourselves. It is the gift of God; therefore we should not be
exalted, or buy any means pretentious, for it is an offence to God. What
have we that we have not received? Man cannot rely upon himself for
anything good or righteous. Christ, only Christ and His righteousness,
will obtain for us a passport into heaven.
Obstructions will meet the advancement of truth in Africa as they
have in all places of the world, and it may be that the Lord suffers
obstructions and obstacles to appear because He sees that if He makes
your way smooth before you in the presentation of truth, it would do
you harm; you would take the glory and become self-sufficient.
After leaving Egypt, Israel stood on the banks of the sea and saw
their enemies overthrown, and now their triumph was complete. But
now the march was in the desert. The first conflict was with Amalek,
whose armies opposed their march. They were sorely tried in this
conflict, “To humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in
thine heart.” “To do thee good at thy latter end.” The Lord sees that
there is self mingled with everything and He would have His people
look to Him. The Lord leads His people by a way that they would not
devise or mark out for themselves. Tests are faithfully applied.
“And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast
seed into the ground; and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the
seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth
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bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the
full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he
putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.” There is the work