MORAL DETERMINATION

 By A. W. Tozer

He was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of
heart they would cleave unto the Lord.   ~ ~ Acts 11:23

      Though we do not have much of it in this age of
spineless religion, there is nevertheless much in the Bible
about the place of moral determination in the service of
the Lord.

     The Old Testament tells us that "Jacob vowed a vow,"
and Daniel "purposed in his heart." Paul determined "not
to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him
crucified." Above all, we have the example of the Lord
Jesus "setting His face like a flint" and walking straight
toward the Cross. These and many others have left us a
record of spiritual greatness born out of a will firmly set
to do the will of God'.

  They did not try to float to heaven on a perfumed cloud,
but cheerfully accepted the fact that "with purpose of heart
they must cleave to the Lord."

  We must surrender -- and in that terrible, wonderful
moment we may feel that our will has been forever
broken, but such is not the case.  In His conquest of the
soul, God purges the will and brings it into union with
His own; but He never breaks it!

---

Yours in Christ,
Paul N. F.