Progress
"Let us go on unto perfection." Hebrews 6:1
Blest Saviour, keep our spirits stayed, Hard following after Thee,
Till we, in robes of white arrayed, Thy face in glory see.
J.G. Deck
(pp. 105-108, Footprints for Pilgrims)
I believe the one great hindrance to our progress is the limited measure of our desire and preparation. We often think that we are wishing for and ready for much more than we are. We always get what we value.
It is very helpful to see in Ephesians 4 that if you were well grown you would not be "tossed to and fro," The higher you go the safer you are -- a fine principle, hence Satan would prevent us from going to the top.
I think many do not habituate themselves to sitting before the Lord. One does not appear to be doing anything, and yet that is the very time in which the peculiar lines of His mind and pleasure for one are acquired.
I believe the practical difficulty with us all is to say -- not Adam in any form or quality, but Christ liveth in me ! ... Every believer likes to advance himself spiritually, but hardly any one likes to exchange himself for another Man.
Learning is very real work, and there is no maturing without it, and I do not believe that any one matures brilliantly who does not learn sufferingly. Easily got, easily gone, was never so corroborated as in the highest things.
I am quite sure that if there were more breaking of heart to know more of the Lord wondrous disclosures would be made to us.
The great things we need for progress is restfulness of heart. I do not believe that there is simple restfulness of heart until union with Christ is known, not merely as a doctrine, but as the unalterable bond of affection. You are not only assured of His grace in saving you, but you have found Him so necessary to you that you cannot live without Him; then to find out that you are united to Him is absolute solace and divine restfulness.
I think what we all need is a greater taste or longing for heaven. I do not believe that any one seeks heaven until he knows the joys of it; and he cannot on earth know the joys of heaven except as he enjoys company with the Lord.
It is as I increase in divine growth that I the more need Christ, and find Christ for everything. The more I grow the more I seek Him, because I want more; and the more I find the more I seek: hence seeking Him is the real mark of growth.
For a saint to have solitude is of the deepest importance, because it is then the heart renews its acquaintance with Him who only has entrance into our most solitary retreats. When we are thoroughly alone and apart He loves to be our visitor.
--- J.B.S.
