And kept _for Him!_ Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, when it is only the fulfilling of His own eternal purpose in creating us? 'This people have I formed _for Myself._' Not ultimately only, but presently and continually; for He says, 'Thou shalt abide _for Me;_' and, 'He that remaineth, even he shall be _for our God_.' Are you one of His people by faith in Jesus Christ? Then see what you are to Him. You, personally and individually, are part of the Lord's portion (Deut. xxxii. 9) and of His inheritance (1 Kings viii. 53, and Eph. i. 18). His portion and inheritance would not be complete without you; you are His peculiar treasure (Ex. xix. 5); 'a _special_ people' (how warm, and loving, and natural that expression is!) '_unto Himself_' (Deut. vii. 6). Would you call it 'keeping,' if you had a 'special' treasure, a darling little child, for instance, and let it run wild into all sorts of dangers all day long, sometimes at your side, and sometimes out in the street, with only the intention of fetching it safe home at night? If ye then, being evil, would know better, and do better, than that, how much more shall our Lord's keeping be true, and tender, and continual, and effectual, when He declares us to be His peculiar treasure, purchased (See 1 Pet. ii. 9, margin) for Himself at such unknown cost! He will keep what thus He sought, Safely guard the dearly bought; Cherish that which He did choose, Always love and never lose. I know what some of us are thinking. 'Yes; I see it all plainly enough in theory, but in practice I find I am not kept. Self goes over to the other camp again and again. If is not all for Jesus, though I have asked and wished for it to be so.' Dear friends, the 'all' must be sealed with 'only.' Are you willing to be '_only_' for Jesus? You have not given 'all' to Jesus while you are not quite ready to be '_only_' for Him. And it is no use to talk about 'ever' while we have not settled the 'only' and the 'all.' You cannot be 'for Him,' in the full and blessed sense, while you are partly 'for' anything or any one else. For 'the Lord hath _set apart_ him that is godly for Himself.' You see, the 'for Himself' hinges upon the 'set apart.' There is no consecration without separation. If you are mourning over want of realized consecration, will you look humbly and sincerely into _this_ point? 'A garden _enclosed_ is my sister, my spouse,' saith the Heavenly Bridegroom. Set apart for Jesus! Is not this enough, Though the desert prospect Open wild and rough? Set apart for His delight, Chosen for His holy pleasure, Sealed to be His special treasure! Could we choose a nobler joy?--and would we, if we might?[footnote: _Loyal Responses_, p. 11.]