It God is the author, then certain things need to be emphasized.
First: We need only to be yielding day by day to his efforts and
presence and power to become more and more sanctified. His life flows
along the path of least resistance; if there is difficulty with us in
the matter of temper, sharpness of tongue, an impure mind or an
unforgiving spirit, give him liberty and the work is complete.
Second: We must learn that the least thing may hinder his work in us.
It became necessary for me recently to purchase a hayrake. I was told
of two different kinds, one the old-fashioned kind where the prongs of
the rake must be lifted by hand, the other an automatic arrangement
where by simply touching the foot to a spring the movement of the
wheels would lift the rake at the proper time so that raking hay was a
delight. The first day the rake was in the field it was almost
impossible to use it. It was too heavy to lift by hand and the foot
attachment would not work. We sent for the man who had sold us the
implement. There was just one little part of the attachment missing.
Missing that, hard effort was required and poor work was accomplished.
It may be that some little thing stands in the way of your blessing, or
the lack of some little thing hinders your usefulness.
Third: We have only to remember the law of growth. We do not grow by
trying. Who ever heard of a boy growing in this way? Who ever heard
of a doctor who had a prescription for growth? Our effort for
Christian growth is just a succession of failures. How many times we
have said, "I am determined to be better; my temper shall never get the
better of me again"! We are beginning at the wrong end. Instead of
dealing with the symptoms, let us see that we are in right relations
with Christ and he will effect the cure. Let us, therefore, just
observe the right attitude towards Christ and we have the secret.
Henry Drummond has said in one of his books that the problem of the
Christian life is simply this: "Men must be brought to observe the
right attitude. To abide in Christ is to be in right position and that
is all." Much work is done on board a ship in crossing the Atlantic,
yet none of this is spent in making the ship go. The sailor harnesses
his vessel to the wind, he lifts his sail, lays hold of his rudder and
the miracle is wrought. God creates, man utilizes. God gives the
wind, the water, the heat, and man lays hold of that which God has
given us, holding himself in position by the grace of God, and the
power of omnipotence courses within his soul.