It is not easy

It is not easy to become a holy man — a Christly man

It always costs unsparing toil, to carve a beautiful and holy life. It costs self-discipline, anguish ofttimes — as we must deny ourselves and cut off the things which we love. SELF must be crucified — if the noble Christian ideal is ever to shine in its beauty in our life.

Michaelangelo used to say, as the chippings fell thick and fast from the marble onto the floor of his studio, "While the marble wastes — the image grows."

Just so, there must be a wasting of self, a chipping away continually of the things which are dear to our human nature — if the things which are true and pure and holy and lovely are to be produced in us. It is not easy to become a holy man — a Christly man .

Yet we must never forget that it is possible. God never yet put into a soul, a dream of holy manhood or womanhood, which He is not able and ready to help make real.

"To this end I labor, struggling with all His energy, which so powerfully works in me." Colossians 1:29

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