ResponsiveReiding

If you’ve never read the “Letters of William Still”, or His “Dying to Live” you’ve missed some exceptional literature. The particular quote below was recently cited by Ligon Duncan and is an example of this unique and wonderful under-Shepherd’s heart.

“Every autumn I have a spate of letters from fond parents, teachers, guardians, and monitors, appealing to me to follow up on such and such a youngster who is away from home at college for the first time, and who has to be hunted, followed, shadowed, intercepted and driven to Christian meetings. I have scarcely ever known this desperate technique to work. I understand the panic of parents and guardians, but it is too late then to try high pressure tactics. Prayer, example and precept, in that order, are the means of bringing up children and young folk in the faith. Nor will high pressure tactics and brainwashing techniques avail when young folk have gone off on their own. Some young folk, alas, will have their fling and sow their wild oats, and come at last to heel, sadly, like the prodigal son. It is where Christians pathetically put their trust in external techniques and artificial stratagems that young folk go astray. Nothing takes the place of the realism of holy living and secret wrestling before God in prayer for our youngsters. We must commit them to God so utterly that we dare not interfere or tamper with their precious souls.”

(William Still, late Pastor of Gilcomston South Church, Aberdeen, Scotland)

’nuff said.

1 Cor. 16:13 �Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.�
In our gender confused age, clear
thinking on the issue of femininity and masculinity is gravely wanting. To be
sure, many are attempting to address the issue somewhat – some nobly. But
often the discussions are long, tedious and of little practical use and application.
I think back to a series of my own on the topic just last year, and lament my
own ability to narrow down some key concepts into one, or even several short,
weighty apothegms one might easily carry away, muse upon, digest well and
bring out when necessary.

Two evenings ago, I stumbled upon this quote from Elizabeth Elliot’s biography
of Amy Carmichael – �A Chance to Die.� It is from Dean Church – a 19th
century Anglican with an uncanny capacity for keen thinking and sound
judgment. I quote:

�Manliness is not mere courage, it is the quality of soul which frankly accepts all
conditions in human life, and makes it a point of honor not to be dismayed or
wearied by them.�

Lord, give us scores of Christian men and women with such a �manly� spirit.

May it be mine.

’nuff said.