We must struggle long and hard!

(J.R. Miller, "The Glory of the Commonplace")

"So here I am today, eighty-five years old! I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then!" Joshua 14:11

It is refreshing to find Caleb so heroic at eighty-five. Most old people ask for easy places — but Caleb had a young man's heart. He did not seek easy things. He asked for a mountain which giants still held, saying that he would drive them out.

In the same way, it develops our own virtues and graces to have to fight to get possession of our inheritance.

God puts the gold deep down among the rocks, that we must dig and search for it if we would get it.

He gives a man a farm — but the farm has to be cleared and cultivated before it is ready to yield its harvest.

He gives a young man a fine education — but the young man must study hard to get it.

He gives a young girl splendid musical talent, and to get it developed into its possibilities, she has to spend months and years in weary practice.

God gives us great grace, holiness, meekness, patience, and likeness to Christ; but we must struggle long and hard with our old nature to obtain these gifts.

"Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling!" Philippians 2:12