Wednesday. [II Cor. 9:12-10:7; Mark 3:20-27]

   If a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. While single-mindedness for sinful evil is the quality within us, the kingdom of darkness and sin is strong in us; but when God’s grace attracts to itself the part of the spirit held captive by sin, freeing it from captivity, then there occurs a division within: sin on the one side, good on the other. As soon as a person unites his consciousness and freedom with good as a result of this awakening, sin loses all support and starts to decay. Constancy in the good intention taken on and patience in labours completely thwart sin and destroy it. Then begins the kingdom of good within, and it remains until some evil thought steals in, and, attracting the will to itself, once again brings about divisions. Just give entrance to the sinful stirring which has arisen, unite with it and set it in action, and again good will begin to weaken, and evil will grow, until it destroys the good entirely. This is the nearly continuous history of the inner life of those who are weak-hearted and do not have a strong disposition.

Tuesday. [II Cor. 8:16-9:5; Mark 3:13-19]

   The Lord chose the apostles, that they should be with Him, and that he might send them forth to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils. Every Christian is chosen—chosen for similar deeds, namely: to be with the Lord, through unceasing remembrance of Him and awareness of His omnipresence, through the preaching and fulfilment of His commandments, and through a readiness to confess one’s faith in Him. In those circles where such a confession is made, it is a loud sermon for all to hear. Every Christian has the power to heal infirmities—not of others, but his own, and not of the body, but of the soul—that is, sins and sinful habits—and to cast out devils, rejecting evil thoughts sown by them, and extinguishing the excitement of passions enflamed by them. Do this and you will be an apostle, a fulfiller of what the Lord chose you for, an accomplisher of your calling as messenger. When at first you succeed in all this, then perhaps the Lord will appoint you as a special ambassador—to save others after you have saved yourself; and to help those who are tempted, after you yourself pass through all temptations, and through all experiences in good and evil. But your job is to work upon yourself: for this you are chosen; the rest is in the hands of God. He who humbles himself shall be exalted.