The Lord's servants need to be fitted for service, and this training can only be effected by being in His company. Therefore, the Lord's word is, "Come ye after Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men" (Mark 1:17). This is still true today, for the Lord's Word remains, "If any man serve Me, let him follow Me" (John 12:26). We may be content with believing the gospel for the benefit of our souls, and know little of going on to follow the Lord in the path of faith and lowly obedience that prepares the way for service. If we are to serve Him it can only be as, in spirit, He becomes the blessed Object before the soul. The Lord has some service for every believer, for "Unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ" (Ephesians 4:7). This service will involve the surrender of all those things that would entangle us in the affairs of this life, and can only be carried out as we keep near to Him.

—Hamilton Smith