In the expression of Isaiah we have also the thought of His anguish.
"He was made a polished shaft." In these days when there is a disposition
to place Jesus upon the level with others who have wrought for the good
of humanity, it is well to remember that He is the Lamb slain from the
foundation of the world. There is also the thought of the beauty of His
character, for He is a "polished shaft," "chiefest among ten thousand,"
and "the One altogether lovely." He is "the lily of the valley" for
fragrance, and "the rose of Sharon" for beauty, and thus prepared He
stands before us beckoning us on to a work which is indescribable in its
fascination. Calling His disciples He said, "I will make you fishers of
men." The same promise is made to us. Working His miracles He said to
those about Him, "Greater works than these shall ye do." We have only
to follow in His footsteps and walk sufficiently near to hear His
faintest whisper when He directs us to be, in the truest sense of the
word, successful personal workers.

It is a great encouragement to hear Him say, "As the Father hath sent
me, even so send I you." The shaft mentioned by Isaiah is an arrow
prepared with all care. The quiver in which this arrow is placed is
carried on the left side of the archer, placed upon the string of the
bow, the archer drawing back the string adds to the elasticity of bow
and string his own strength, and the shaft is off to do the archer's
will. There is in this story an illustration for all Christian workers.
Fitness for service lies first of all in divine endowment. God has
given to each one of us special and peculiar qualifications. If we live
as we ought to live, exercising the gift that is in us; the painter may
paint for His glory; the poet may sing and speak of Him; the preacher
may preach and declare His righteousness, and should we live in less
conspicuous spheres than these, we have only to do our best with that
with which He has endowed us and our lives will be pleasing to Him.