Time is short and duty is large. There is not a moment to
lose, if, in our allotted period, we would finish the work that is
given us to do. We need to get our Lord's "straightway" into our life,
so that we shall hasten from duty to duty, without pause or idle
lingering. We need to get into our heart a consciousness of being ever
on the Master's errands, that shall be within us a mighty compulsion,
driving us always to duty.
Naturally we are indolent, and fond of ease and self indulgence. We
need to be carried out of and beyond ourselves. There is no motive
strong enough to do this but love to God and to our fellow-men.
Supreme love to God makes us desire to do with alacrity everything he
commands. Love to our fellow-men draws us to all service of sympathy
and beneficence for them, regardless of cost. Constrained by such
motives, we shall never become laggards in duty.
Swiftness or slowness in duty is very much a matter of habit. As one
is trained in early life, one is quite sure to continue in mature
years. A loitering child will become a loitering man or woman. The
habit grows, as all habits do.
"Lose this day loitering, 'twill be the same story
To-morrow, and the next more dilatory;
The indecision brings its own delays,
And days are lost, lamenting o'er lost days.
"Are you in earnest? Seize this very minute.
What you can do, and think you can, begin it.
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