Good ol' Oswald

(paraphrased)

Matt 28:19

J.C. did not say--Go and save souls, but--"Go and teach" (disciple) "all nations," and you cannot make disciples unless you are a disciple yourself. When the disciples came back from their first task they were filled with joy because the devils were subject to them, and J.C. said--Don't rejoice in successful service; the great secret of joy is that you are rightly related to Me. The great essential of the worker is that he remains true to the call of the Father, and realizes that his one purpose is to disciple men and women to J.C. There is a passion for souls that does not spring from God, but from the desire to make converts to our point of view.

The challenge to the worker does not come on the line that people are difficult to get saved, that backsliders are difficult to reclaim, that there is a wadge of callous indifference; but along the line of his own personal relationship to J.C. "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" Our Master puts that question steadily, it faces us in every individual case we meet. The one great challenge is--Do I know my Risen Ld? Do I know the power of His indwelling Sprt? Am I wise enough in Gd's sight and foolish enough according to the world, to bank on what J.C. has said, or am I abandoning the great supernatural position, which is the only call for a worker--boundless confidence in C.J? If I take up any other method I depart altogether from the methods laid down by Our Ld--"All power is given unto Me..., therefore go.