Last week I shared the first half of a poem that gave us some food for thought about our choices as Christians. God is our ultimate authority, and there may be some things that He allows others to do (even other Christians), but He does not want us to do it because it does not fit into His personal plan for us. If we fight for our “rights” or “freedoms” in these things, we will miss God’s best for us. But if we submit ourselves, we will see overwhelming victory in our lives. So here is the second half of the poem:
The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch over you, with a jealous love, and will rebuke you for little words and feelings or for wasting your time, which other Christians never feel distressed over. SO make up your mind that God is an Infinitely Sovereign Being, and has a right to do as He pleases with His own. He may not explain to you a thousand things which puzzle your reason in His dealings with you, but if you absolutely sell yourself to be His love slave, He will wrap you up in Jealous Love, and bestow upon you many blessings which come only to those who are in the inner circle.
Settle it forever, then that you are to DEAL DIRECTLY WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT, and that He is to have the privilege of tying your tongue, or chaining your hand, or closing your eyes, in ways that He does not seem to use with others. Now, when you are so possessed with the living God that you are, in your secret heart, pleased and delighted over this PECULIAR, PERSONAL, PRIVATE, JEALOUS GUARDIANSHIP and MANAGEMENT OF the HOLY SPIRIT OVER YOUR LIFE, then you will have found the vestibule of Heaven.
WHEN YOU ARE forgotten, neglected, or purposefully set at naught, and you smile inwardly, glorying in the insult or the oversight, because thereby you are counted worthy to suffer with Christ, THAT IS VICTORY.
WHEN YOUR GOOD is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, when your taste is offended, when your advice is disregarded, when your opinions are ridiculed, and you take it all in patient, loving silence, THAT IS VICTORY.
WHEN YOU ARE content with any food, raiment, climate, society, solitude, or any interruption by the will of God, THAT IS VICTORY.