We know the difference between a man of strong presence and one whose presence is weak; though very few of us are skilled in reading, except in a very small way, the character it reveals; through our presence each of us is constantly influencing those with whom we come in contact.  Now this is the chief thing we have for our winning work.  This is the thing that Jesus uses.  It is this that the Spirit of God takes possession of, if He may, and that He uses in His outreach to others.  We win most and best through what we are.

Now, of course, I do not mean that we are to be thinking of it that way all the time.  The thinking that you have a winsome presence would itself rob you of the most winsome part of it.  Winsomeness of presence is greatest and sweetest when we are wholly unconscious that there is such a thing about us.  As we are absorbed in Jesus, and in our fellows, the winsomeness that is native to us shines out most attractively.  It has been covered up and hidden away a good bit by sin.  Some men seem to have none.  Some have a great deal, in spite of their ignoring of God.

But as He is allowed to play upon us, as we seek to let His Spirit rule our conduct and control our powers, the original God-image comes out.  This is a return to natural conditions as planned by God.  What has been lost through sin is restored and grown bigger and richer by the Spirit’s presence.  I can give God the full use of this precious gift of personality.

Growing Bigger for Service’s Sake.

There’s a second thing to do.  This consecrated personality can be made a developed personality.  We don’t start into life full size.  We have to grow.  The greatest task of life, as well as one of the sweetest, is in growing fine in grain, and big in size, and skilled in action.  The highest achievement of life and the rarest to find is self-mastery, that is, all that one is in himself grown big and fine-grained, skilfully used and held steadily to its true use.  All other achievements are through this one.

The stronger I can make my body the more I can give God to use.  The more thoroughly I can understand the great, simple laws of my body, and the more I can get into the habit of obeying them, the more can God use me in His plans.  Such common things as eating and drinking, breathing and exercising, sleeping and resting and dress, may not be called common any more, if through thoughtfulness here you and I can be of greater use to our Master and our fellows.

The keener and clearer and stronger we can make our thinking, by dint of self-discipline, the greater power have we with other men.  The purer the heart, the loftier the practical ideals that control the personal habits, the greater is the winning power at command.

We may not be conscious of the difference.  We will not be thinking of that.  But the increased power of attraction is there, and is breathing out of one’s presence, and is distinctly felt by others.  And, more, it is making a distinct mark upon others, more than they know.  We must set ourselves to growing bigger and better for service’s sake.