August 28

Read: Acts 8:26-40

The Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him (Acts 8:29-30).

Ready Obedience

A saintly little lady nearly eighty years of age testified in prayer meeting: “I’ve learned that when God tells me to do something, I have to go and do it right away.” Here is the kind of response that God wants from every one of His children.

The sanctified man renders better Christian service because all of his powers are fully dedicated to God. When we make our consecration vows we say:

“I’ll go where You want me to go, dear Lord, Over mountain, or plain, or sea; I’ll say what You want me to say, dear Lord; I’ll be what You want me to be.”

With such a consecration, when God has some bit of work to be done, He can call on us, knowing that we will obey. There will be no debating of the issues after we have said, “Thy will shall be my will.” There is no shirking of duty when we have given our talents to God to be used as He might need them. In the sanctified heart there is a readiness to put aside our own plans when the Holy Spirit whispers that He has need of an hour or two of our time.

God’s work is always in trouble when He must try to get it done with half-committed Christians. The risk is too great that such persons will neglect or say No to some prompting of the Spirit. Does God have in me a good service risk? I want to be that kind of Christian.

Open my mind, that I may read More of Thy love in word and deed. What shall I fear while yet Thou dost lead? Only for light from Thee I plead.

— Charles H. Scott