Words to the Workers in Africa
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have yet to learn with Paul that to suffer for the sake of Christ is for
their present and eternal good. Paul looked upon present suffering as
not worthy to be compared with the glory which was to follow. He
desired heavenly treasure rather than earthly advantages. He did not
see anything in the world worth living for but the joy of doing the will
of God from the heart, trusting all the consequences to God.
God desires to see the souls of His people in Africa mastered
by heaven-born purposes. But what a work needs to be done there!
The people have not learned of the great Teacher. Human nature,
when unsubdued, unsanctified, and depraved, is a very curious and
wonderful thing. It assumes a great many forms, because it is not
worked by the Holy Spirit. But when the Lord Jesus is an abiding
presence in the soul, none need to question the value of the human
being, man or woman.
Paul wrote to Timothy, his son in the gospel, “God hath not given
us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be
not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his
prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according
to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy
calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose
and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.”
Peter declares, “Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile,
and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes,
desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: if so
be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as
unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and
precious, ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an
holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by
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Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I
lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth
on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he
is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the
builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a
stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble
at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a
peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath
called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.”