"While observing a cork-cutter at work, I saw that after cutting and shaping a few pieces, he always turned to renew the keen edge of his knife. I quickly saw the necessity of this if his work was not to suffer, and this simple incident had a lesson for me. For, to continue in service when out of spiritual condition, it is not an instrument ' meet for the Master's use.' We need to have our seasons apart with Him for self-judgment and heart-searching, for sharpening and resetting, so that we may be ready for any work in which He may see fit to use us. Continual work is not possible to an edge tool. It has to be re-sharpened and kept in a condition fit for its owner's use.

"And so it must be with us. It is written concerning the earliest of the Lord's servants, that they gave themselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word (Acts 6:4). Many have been cast aside as unfit for the Lord's use because they were out of condition for His service. They 'ministered' when they should have been 'in prayer.' To be used of the Lord, we need often to turn aside from the public to speak to God and to examine ourselves. This is needful to maintain a right spiritual condition, especially for those who preach and teach. ' Take heed unto thyself and unto the doctrine' (i Tim. 4:16), is a word of great value to all who are actively engaged in the Lord's work. And it cannot be neglected without loss of that spiritual condition and fitness to be used as a tool in the hand of the Lord.

"If we would speak to others of the Word of God, we must be taking it in fresh from Him for our own soul's sustenance; and for this we need to be much with Him in private, to be sharpened and fitted for His use. The tendency of these times is to have everything done in haste, with as little labor as possible. This will not do in the holy service of the Lord. Anything and anyhow will not do for God. He must have us near to Him, as becomes His messengers and ambassadors among men." (Extracted)