Spiritual submissive this is
not accomplished in an instant, but by the incremental
improvements and by this successive
use of stepping-stones. Stepping-stones are meant to
be taken one at a time anyway. Eventually our wills
can be swallowed up, in ''the will of the
Father'' as we are ''willing to submit'' even
as a child doth submit to his father.'' Otherwise,
though striving, we will continue to feel
the world's prop wash and be partially diverted. Illustrations involving economic
consecration are relevant. When Ananias and Sapphira
sold their possessions, they kept back ''part of the
price.'' So many of us cling tenaciously to a particular
'part,' even treating our obessions like possessions. Thus, whatever else we
may have already given, the last portion is
the hardest to yield. Granted, partial surrender
is still commendable, but it resembles, more
than frankly, the excuse, I gave at the office.