JULY
July 1
The Value of Time
Our days, as God gives them to us—are like beautiful
summer fields. The minutes are blooming flowers and silvery
grass-blades and stalks of wheat with their golden grains. The hours
are trees with their rich foliage or vines with their blossom-prophecies of
purple clusters. Oh the fair, blessed possibilities of the days and hours
and minutes—as they come to us from God's hands! But what did you do with
yesterday? How does the little acre of that one day look to you now? What
are we doing with our time? Every moment God gives us, has in it a
possibility of beauty as well as something to be accounted for. Are we
using our time for God?
July 2
For the Sake of Christ
Love to Christ must be the spring and inspiration of all
duty, all heroism, all fine achievement, all service to our fellow-men.
"In His Name" is the true motto of all Christian living. Serving our
fellow-men amounts to nothing in Heaven's sight—if it is not done for the
sake of Christ. The service must be really rendered to Christ, no matter to
whom the kindness is shown—or otherwise there is no blessing in it, however
beautiful it may be in itself. Things we do from any other motive, have no
acceptableness in the sight of God.
July 3
Watch Your Heart Life
We need to watch our heart-life, for it is in thoughts,
feelings, dispositions, moods, tempers, affections, that all departure from
Christ begins. We need to watch our inner spiritual state. The world may see
no abatement in our zeal, in our religious activity, in our earnest advocacy
of the truth—and yet there may be less prayerfulness, less love for Christ,
less tenderness of conscience, less hunger for righteousness, less desire
for holiness. Is Christ more to you now, than ever he was before? Does his
love constrain you with overmastering sway? Can you say, with Zinzendorf, "I
have only one passion—and that is Christ!"? Is your heart right?
July 4
Praying for Our Country
We need to pray much for our country. Perhaps we err in
making our prayers ordinarily only for ourselves and for our own little
world. Certainly our country ought to have a place in the daily
supplications of every Christian. Those who rule over us ought to be
continually remembered. They are men, and need divine wisdom and guidance.
They are men under the sway of political influence, and we need to pray that
they be kept free from any influence which would lead them to forget God. We
need to pray for our institutions, that they be kept pure and holy—that
righteousness may prevail throughout the land. We need to pray for all our
people, that they may be made good citizens—that uprightness and integrity
may characterize them. "Happy is that people whose God is the Lord."
July 5
Over-Answered Prayer
No true, faith-winged prayer, goes unanswered. But many a
prayer which seems to us unanswered is really over-answered. The very thing
we ask God does not grant, because he is able to do something infinitely
better for us. We ask only for bodily help or relief, and he sees that we
need far more some deep spiritual blessing. He answers our soul's
needs—before he gratifies our personal wishes. We ask for a temporal favor;
he does not give it to us—but instead he bestows upon us a spiritual good
which will enrich us forever. We ask for the lifting away of a burden, or
the averting of a sorrow; our plea is not granted in form—but instead we
receive a new impartation of the power of Christ. Thus many times our little
prayers are really over-answered.
July 6
Pass on Your Blessing
God does not like to bestow his blessings where they will
be hoarded—but he loves to put them into the hands of those who will do the
most with them to bless their fellows. The central object of true living, is
to be helpful to others. The true life is one devoted to Christ, to be used
then for him in blessing others. Lay every gift at the Master's feet, and
then, when it has been blessed by him, carry it out to bless others. Bring
your barley loaves to Christ, and then, with the spell of his touch upon
them—you may feed hungry thousands with them.
July 7
Under God's Orders
Wherever God puts us, he has something definite just
there for us to do—something which he has brought us there on purpose to do.
There is something he created you specially to do. He brings you every day
into places where it is true that you are there for a definite duty. Every
time we find ourselves in the presence of a need or an opportunity for
helpfulness, we may well stop and ask if God has not brought us to this
point for this very thing. We are ever really under orders. Ofttimes the
orders are sealed, and are opened only as the hours move. To realize this,
gives all our commonest life a sacredness that should make us reverent. We
are continually serving our King.
July 8
The Beginning of Bitterness
Let us instantly crush the beginnings of envy, jealousy,
and hate in our hearts—never allowing the day to close on a bitter feeling.
The hour of evening prayer, when we bow at God's feet, should always be a
time for getting right, everything which may have gone wrong with us and in
us during the day. Then every injury should be forgiven when we pray,
"Forgive us—as we forgive others." Then every spark of envy or jealousy or
anger should be quenched, and the love of Christ should be allowed to flood
our hearts. We should never allow the sun to go down on our anger.
July 9
Written Not With Ink
The world does not read the Bible, nor come to church to
hear the gospel. All it learns about Christ and the Christian life—it must
learn from those who bear Christ's name and represent him. If all
church-members lived truly consecrated lives—holy, beautiful, separate from
the world; loyal to Christ in business, in pleasure, in all things—it is
impossible to estimate what the powerful influence of the Church would be,
in example alone. It is an awful thought, that professing Christians, by the
inconsistencies of their personal lives, lead souls to reject the Savior. We
are all responsible for the influence of our example. Our lives should be
New Testament pages, that all can read. "You show that you are a letter from
Christ—written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God." 2
Corinthians 3:3
July 10
Grace for the Day
God does not give us his grace as he gives his
sunshine—pouring it out on all alike. He discriminates in spiritual
blessings. He gives strength according to our need. His eye is
ever on us in tender, watchful love, and what we need at the time—he
supplies. He gives us grace for grace. When one grace is exhausted, another
is ready. The grace is always timely. It is not given in large supply in
advance of the need—but is ready always in time. It may not always be what
we wish—but it is always what we really need.
July 11
The Transfigured Life
Holy thoughts in the heart, transfigure the life. Your
daily thoughts build up your character. Our hearts are the quarries where
the blocks are fashioned, which we build into our life-temple. If our
thoughts and meditations are holy, beautiful, true, pure, loving, and
gentle—our life will grow into Christ-likeness. Drummond tells of a young
girl whose character ripened into rare beauty—one of the loveliest lives, he
says, that ever bloomed on earth. She always wore about her neck a little
locket. But no one was ever allowed to open the locket or to know what it
contained. Once, however, in a time of dangerous illness, she permitted a
friend to look within it, and there she saw the words, "Whom having not
seen—I love." That was the secret of the dear child's transfiguration of
character—loving the unseen Christ. The same love—warm, tender, earnest,
glowing in the heart year after year, will transfigure any life into
heavenly beauty.
July 12
The Blessing of Doing
It is the building of godly character, which should be
our central aim in all life. Business, school, home, church, reading,
pleasure, struggle. work, sorrow—all are but means to that one end. I
do not care how much money you made last year; but let me ask earnestly what
mark last year's business made upon your character. The growth of one's
graces, is of infinitely more importance than the growth of one's fortune.
Everything we do leaves its impress within, upon our soul. We are
building life all the while, whatever we are doing. The work itself may
fail—but in the worker's disappointment, amid the failure of his plans—the
work on his character goes on. Even in defeats, the struggling leaves a
recompense within. Giving, though nothing good comes from the gift, blesses
the giver.
July 13
The Influence of Words
Words are so easily spoken, that we forget what power
they have to give pleasure or pain. They seem to vanish so utterly, the
moment they have dropped from our lips—that we forget they do not go away at
all—but linger, either like barbed arrows in the heart where they
struck—or like fragrant flowers shedding their perfumes. No matter
when we talk with others or on what theme, however playful or light—we
should always try to speak some thoughtful word before we part, some word
that will give strength or hope or cheer or help. We may not meet our friend
again.
July 14
Seeing Only the Faults
There are some people who walk through God's fair world,
and in the midst of men and women whose lives shine with bright qualities
and dazzling gems of character—and yet they have no eyes for any of these
radiant beauties. But for every fault and blemish—they have
the sharpest vision! They judge uncharitably. They think evil—where there is
none. This is one of the things Christ condemns. We should train ourselves
away from a habit of life, which is so unchristian. We should seek to have
eyes only for the beauty—and not for the blemishes.
July 15
Home-Work for Christ
We are not truly Christians, if we are doing nothing for
our Lord. But the work of Christ is not all found in the things we do in the
Church. Let no one fret who finds no time from love's devoted service
for outside or public work for Christ. You are doing most beautiful things
for Christ in your unselfish toil, in your sick-room ministry, in your care
for your children, in your deeds of kindness to the invalid within your own
doors. Only do all in Christ's name—and it will shine like angels' work!
Some people God seems to ordain for just such ministry, and to keep ever
busy, and out of the world's sight. Let none such fret that they cannot take
part in the public work of the Church.
July 16
Prayer Without Promise
There are human lives that never learn to sing the songs
of faith and peace and love—until they enter the
darkness of sorrow and trial. Would it be true love for these—for God to
hear their prayer for the removal of every sorrow and pain? There is no
promise—for the prayer that God would take out of our life—all the
hindrances, the griefs, the bitternesses. If we pray such a prayer, it must
be simply a humble, shrinking request, which we shall refer at once, without
undue urging, to the wise and perfect will of God.
July 17
You Did It Not
We are too apt to neglect opportunities of helping others
and of relieving distress; never thinking that we are sinning against
Christ, that we are indeed leaving him unhelped and unrelieved when
we might have given him sweet comfort. We forget that neglects are
sins. "You did it not" is the charge, in our Lord's picture of the Judgment,
against those who are bidden to depart. The things we have failed to do,
will be the things that shall turn the scales on that great trial-day. We
must meet our neglects as well as our sins.
July 18
Visions in the Words of Christ
Every word of Christ that we ponder deeply, opens to us a
vision of beauty or excellence— something very lovely, a fragment of
Christ's own image—and we should instantly strive to paint the vision on our
own life, to get the beauty, the excellence, the loveliness into our own
life. Let us learn to be loyal to the word of Christ; not only to know it
and ponder it and meditate upon it—but to do it, and to allow it thus to
shape and mold our whole being into its own holy beauty. If we hide Christ's
words in our hearts, they will transform us into his likeness.
July 19
Our Weak Hours
We are not at all times equally strong. There are days
with all of us when we throw off temptation with almost no effort. But none
of us are so every day. There are hours with the strongest of us—when we are
weak. These are the times of peril for us, and our adversary is watching for
them. In your weak hours keep a double guard, therefore, against
temptation. Keep out of its way. Throw yourself with mighty faith on Him who
was tempted in all points as we are, and knows therefore how to deliver us
when we are tempted. In time of special weakness—run to Christ for shelter!
"Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He
prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour!" 1
Peter 5:8
July 20
Individual Responsibility
God looks upon us as individuals. We come into this world,
one by one. We live in one sense, alone with our own personal
responsibilities. We die one by one. As individuals, not as crowds, must we
stand before God. Your destiny will not depend on any chance of the moment;
you are fixing it yourself in your choices and acts, in your habits and
life. Your own faith and obedience must weave the garment of beauty for your
life. God gives the materials—but after that each one is the weaver of his
own "wedding-garment."
July 21
Doing Things for Christ
We often imagine that it was a great deal easier for our
Lord's first disciples to do things for him, than it is for us. They could
see him and hear his voice and do errands really for him, and
coming back hear his approval or his thanks; but we cannot hear him telling
us what to do, nor can we see his pleased look when we have done anything
for him. So we find ourselves wishing he were here again, that we might get
our duties right from his very lips. We sometimes ask how we can do things
for him—when he is not here. But we have only to remember his promise: "I am
with you all the days." He is here, though unseen, just as really as he was
with his first disciples. We can do things for him all the time. Every
loving obedience is something done for Christ. Every kindness
shown to another in his name and for his sake—is shown to him. Every piece
of common, routine task-work, if done through love for him, becomes
something done for Christ. So we can make all our dull life, as radiant as
angels ministry, by doing all for Christ!
July 22
God's Unchanging Love
Human love may change. The friendship of last year—has
grown cold. The gentleness of yesterday—has turned to harshness. But it is
never thus with God's love. It is eternal. Our experience of it may
be variable, hut there is no variableness in his love. Our lives may change,
our consciousness of his love may fade out; but the love clings
forever, the gentleness of God abides eternal. "For the mountains shall
depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from you,
neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, says the Lord who has
mercy on you."
July 23
God's Present Help
There is never a moment, nor any experience, in the life
of a true Christian, from the heart of which a prayer may not instantly be
sent up to God, and back to which help may not instantly come. God is not
merely off in some remote heaven. He is not far away, looking down upon us
in serene calm and watching us—as we struggle upward in pain and tears. He
is with each one of us on every part of the way. His promise of presence is
an eternal present tense—"I am with you." So "God, you see me" becomes to
the believer a most cheering and inspiring assurance. We are never out of
God's sight for a moment! His eye watches each one of us continually,
and his heart is in his eye. He comes instantly to our help and deliverance,
when we are in any need or danger.
July 24
The Greatest Attribute
The greatest attribute in God is not his power, though it
is omnipotence; not his knowledge, though it is omniscience; not his glory,
though it is burning majesty: it is his love. He is greatest—as he blesses
and serves. The brightest hour in Christ's life was not the hour of his
transfiguration, or of his miracle-working, or of his sublime teaching—but
the hour when he hung in the darkness on his cross. Then it was, that his
love shone out in the most wondrous revealing. We need to remember for
ourselves, that the greatest thing in the world is love—that serving is the
path to highest honor.
July 25
Of His Fullness
Every life will have its times of sore testing, its times
of sharp trial, its experiences in which ordinary strength and preparation
will not avail. It is when we have Christ behind our own little strength,
when we are abiding in Christ, when our faith links us to his everlasting
fullness—that we have the reserve we need for any future necessity. True
religion binds the soul to God, so that from his divine fullness supply
comes for every emergency. We cannot fall—if God is behind us. Our lamps can
never go out—if they are fed from heaven's olive trees. But if we have no
such reserve, our own feeble strength will soon be exhausted, and there will
be no refilling of the emptied vessel.
July 26
Shrinking From Duty
When we stand before any duty, whatever peril or cost it
may involve, let us not hesitate to do it. You cannot turn away from duty,
but at the peril of your soul. Forget not the momentous word of Christ:
"Whoever will save his life shall lose it; but whoever will lose his life
for my sake shall find it." There are times when the best use we can make of
our life—is to give it up. Life that which is saved by shrinking from
duty—is not worth saving. It has been stained, and has lost its glory in the
saving. It is infinitely better to die in the way of duty—than to live by
cowardice or disloyalty to Christ or by any unfaithfulness.
July 27
As a Flower Scatters Fragrance
Stay at Christ's feet—until your heart overflows with
love for all, even for people you have not liked before. Then begin to think
about them and to live for them. Begin to scatter happiness as a flower
scatters fragrance, as a lamp scatters beams of light. Christ was always
making people happy. Shall we not take the same aim for ours? It is a
wonderful power, too—a power that we all have in a greater or smaller
measure—to put gladness and joy into others' hearts. No mission in life can
be nobler—than to live to be a happiness-maker.
July 28
Prayer and Answer
True prayer is earnest, not tiring nor fainting. It takes
every burden to God—the small and the large alike. It is submissive,
referring all to the Father's will. Its answer may not come in the direct
granting of the request we make—but may come instead in more grace and
strength, enabling us to keep the burden and yet rejoice. Lying at our
Father's feet in the time of need, with our strong cryings and tears—we
learn obedience. Our sobbings end in praises, our struggles end in
acquiescence, our tears are dried, and we rise victorious.
July 29
Taking Short Cuts
We should never take short-cuts, even to things that we
are sure will some day be ours. Life is full of these opportunities to
shorten the path to success, to achievement, to position. God's way ofttimes
seems long and far around. But any other way, however short it seems, is
longer. Though there may be no sin committed in taking the short-cuts,
nothing dishonorable done, nothing to stain the soul—still it is better to
go only as God leads. His way is always in the end the shortest.
July 30
What We Try to Do
Christ accepts—whatever we try our best to do for him,
whatever we truly want to do, even though no results come from our efforts.
This ought to be a comfort to many of us—for we do not do, any of us,
indeed, what it is in our hearts to do. Our hands are awkward and
unskillful, and fail to work out the beauty which our mind dreams. We go out
with high resolve and loving thought, to do some sweet service for our
Lord—and come back with tears and sad regret over the failure, or the
marring of what we meant to do. But Christ knows what our hearts planned
and what we wanted to do—and that is what he counts and sets down
on his books.
July 31
Blessing of Daily Crosses
A true Christian life never grows easy, never becomes
entirely agreeable to our natural tastes. Every day is, in a certain sense,
a crucifixion, a nailing of self on the cross. But this very hardness is a
means of grace. The cross lifts us upward. We grow under the burden
of our daily duties and cares. So it comes that the things we would like to
be freed from—are the things we could least afford to lose. What we consider
our disadvantages, may really be our most indispensable advantages. We grow
best under pressure, under the hard necessity of toil and care.
AUGUST
August 1
Christianity a Life
It would be easier to get all the sunbeams out of grasses
and flowers and plants in the bright summer days—than to get the life of
Christ out of the world. It has wrought itself into everything along these
Christian centuries, not only into the individual lives of Christ's
followers—but also into laws and systems and institutions, into thought and
literature and music and art. Christianity is not a mere creed. There is
that in it—which can never be wrapped up in forms, in liturgies, in
confessions. Nor is Christianity a mere code of ethics; it is a life, a
throbbing, pulsing, immortal life. It enters into men as the sunshine enters
into the plant or the flowers. It becomes their very heart's blood, their
breath, their spirit. It inspires their thought, their feeling, their words,
their acts.
August 2
The Hidden Life
We are all conscious that we are living in this world,
even at our best—far below our best. We are conscious, too, of possibilities
of character hidden within us undeveloped, and of powers of helpfulness in
our life which we have barely begun to exercise—but which might be drawn out
into activity. We see hints and gleams, and we have glimpses now and then,
of far more glorious life than we have yet reached. The highest attainments
here—are but the beginnings of sanctified life. The peace, joy, love,
unselfishness, service, purity, holiness, reached in the ripest experiences
of earthly sainthood—are only dim intimations of what we may
become—ay, of what we shall become! Our life is hid, concealed, with
Christ in God.
August 3
Life's Sensitivity
You go through a day of varying experiences, and
everything that touches your life—the words you hear, the pictures you see,
the books you read, the companions you meet and with whom you associate, the
friendship that warms your heart—everything that touches you, leaves its
mark on your character. And it is not a mere passing, transient impression
that these things and these lives and experiences leave
on your life; it is permanent work that they do. Not the great stones in the
massive building are so wrought into the fabric—as these impressions are
wrought into the character. Our lives are temples, and everyone who touches
us, is a builder. So it is also with the influences we throw off on other
lives. They make their record there, and it is ineffaceable.
August 4
A Casket of Sweet Thoughts
"We cry, Abba, Father." Romans 8:15 When we learn
to look up to God out of our weakness and sorrow, and say, "Abba, Father,"
what a revelation does the name disclose! What a treasure of precious
love-thoughts does it unlock! For one thing, there is love in this
divine Fatherhood—love which never falters, which never wearies, which stops
at no sacrifice. There is also watchfulness which never sleeps, which
looks down with compassionate eye from above the silent stars, and keeps
vigil day and night. There is compassion, also, which peers into the
depths of all our want and woe. There is shelter too, forever does
our Father stand between us and danger. There is guidance, a divine
Hand clasping ours and leading us along through every difficult and dark
way. No casket of earth's jewels holds so rich a cluster—as does this
heavenly casket, this name "Father," contain of the jewels of divine grace.
August 5
The Moral Power of "Yes"
It is important that we learn to say "Yes"—when
"Yes" is the true answer. To all invitations upward to truer, deeper,
richer, nobler life—we should instantly answer "Yes." All calls to
duty, to holy service, to noble deeds, to heroic battle—we should meet with
glad "Yes." While we instantly shut our hearts against all that is impure
and unholy, all thoughts that would tarnish or stain or
blight—we should open them just as quickly to all thoughts which are
pure and true and honest and just and lovely.
One of the old Bible answers which we hear so often from the lips of saintly
men, when called of God, is, "Here am I!" It meant readiness for
instant, unquestioning obedience. We need to get the same answer into our
heart's vocabulary, that when God calls we may always respond with our
prompt, ringing "Here am I!"
August 6
Spiritual Poverty
We are greedy after this world's things—and never can get
enough of them. But of the real things, the things which will last through
eternity—we are satisfied with very small portions. "What do you seek?" asks
the Master. His hands filled with precious blessings; and we ask for some
little thing, some trifle, when we might have glorious fullness of blessing.
How very strange it must seem to the angels to see us poor mortals giving
our life, our very soul, to get some paltry thing of earth, which will
perish tomorrow; and then not taking the precious spiritual blessings that
we might have for the mere asking!
August 7
Unseen Brethren
While we pour our kindness in perpetual blessings upon
those whose lives touch ours in our daily walks—we must not forget that we
have brethren whom we have never seen. Says the old proverb, "There are
people who live beyond the hill." We must think of these in our planning for
ourselves. We are in danger of living in a very small world, thinking of
only a few people; but wherever there is a true follower of the Lord Jesus
Christ, there is one of our brothers. He may be in India or China or Africa,
or in some island of the sea; still he is our brother, and we ought to have
some kindly thought for him.
August 8
Grief Ofttimes an Excuse
There are sorrows which wear no black, and close no
shutters, and drop no tears that men can see, and can get no sympathy—but
that of Christ and perhaps a closest human brother. If you knew the inner
life of many of the people you work with, and do business with, and meet
socially in the common days—you would be very gentle with them; you would
excuse their peculiarities, their absentmindedness, their seeming
thoughtlessness at times. Grief makes life hard for very many people. It is
a wonder they can be as cordial and loving as they are—in view of the
burdens which crush them.
August 9
Testing Christ's Words
Every word of Christ comes to us with the challenge, "Put
me to the test. Try me. Prove me." True religion is not a matter of
theory—but a matter of life. We are to prove it—by living
it. Take every word which Christ speaks, and begin at once to obey it—if it
is a command; or trust it and lean on it—if it is a promise.
It does not matter if you do not understand it, nor see why the command is
good—still do it. Let God lead you—only be sure that you obey and trust him.
You will not know—any faster than you will do. Only keep on
following Christ, and the way will open to you and become plain as you go on
step by step.
August 10
Christ in Sunshine
We are in danger of using our religion only in our dark
hours, when we are in some trouble. But we need Christ just as much in our
bright, prosperous, blessed hours—as in the days of darkness, adversity, and
depression. His religion is just as much for our hours of joy—as for our
days of grief. There are just as many stars in the sky at noon as at
midnight, although we cannot see them in the sun's glare. And there are just
as many comforts and promises and divine encouragements and blessings above
us when we are in our noons of human gladness and earthly success—as when we
are in pain and darkness.
August 11
Are There Little Sins?
We talk about little sins—but when we remember that every
sin is committed against the infinite God, and that all sins are eternal in
their influences and consequences—the smallest sin grows into stupendous
importance. Indeed, there is nothing little in moral life. How do we know
what is small or what is great in God's eye—or as measured by its results
through future ages? True faithfulness is not careless in little things. It
is harder always to be faithful in small, obscure, unpraised things—than in
things which are brilliant and conspicuous. More people fail in doing the
little things, the common ho-hum things, of everyday life—than in
doing the greater and more prominent things. Hence it is here that we need
to keep double watch upon ourselves. All fraying out of character,
begins with one little thread left loose.
August 12
Imagining Christ's Beauty
Go and speak of Christ to others; tell them of his
holiness, his purity, his mercy, his patience, his great love, his infinite
gentleness; speak of his gracious beauty until your face glows and your eyes
shine with the luster of his radiancy as you see it in his face. But do not
fail to show them in your own character, in your disposition, in your
love—patience, gentleness, sympathy, unselfishness, kindness, purity—some
gleams, some radiant hints, of the beauty of Christ. Let people see in
you—at least a dim reflection of the beauty you praise.
August 13
Forgiving Injuries
Even those to whom we are the truest friends, and for
whom we do the most, will sometimes treat us unjustly and do us hurtful
injury. We cannot but feel the pain of such wrongs; but if meekly borne—they
will be turned to good for us, by that divine love which transmutes
everything into blessing, for the life of faith. It is only when we cherish
resentment and hold grudge in our hearts—that the injuries done to us by
others really harm us. Forgiveness robs them of their power to hurt us. Let
us forgive generously. Too much of our forgiveness is with reservation: "I
forgive you; but . . ." The fuller our forgiveness, the richer
blessing do we take from the injurious treatment.
August 14
God's Goodness in All
It is not hard to believe in the divine goodness—when all
things are joyous. The hard thing is to believe in it just as firmly and
quietly—when all things seem against us. The goodness of God is just as
surely and as richly revealed in the dark things of providence, as in
the bright things. God comes to us in many forms; but always his name
is Love, always is he our Father. We keep two lists, and write some
things as " prosperous and some as "adverse." God writes "goodness" over
all.
August 15
What Grace Does Not Do
Grace does not take trouble out of human life. It
does not make all the world feel kindly toward you. It does not hush the
tongue of reproach and scorn. It does not quell the contentions of life. It
does not soften human harshness, nor destroy selfishness. It does not hush
the sharp voices of criticism, fault-finding, and frivolous talk. It does
not command a truce to jealous rivalries and envyings, to personal abuse and
silly strife. It does not say to the adverse winds, "Blow not on my home."
Christ makes no charmed circle about us where we shall never more
feel the blast of the storm; but he gives a peace that will keep the heart
calm and tranquil, in the midst of the angriest strifes and storms.
August 16
Working By Faith
Faith links a man to Christ, so that he is no more a mere
common man, with only his own poor feeble strength—but is more than a man—a
man whom Christ is using, behind whom Christ's omnipotent energy is working.
We must yield ourselves altogether to God and let him use us. Then his
power, his wisdom, his skill, his thoughts, his love shall flow through our
souls, our brains, our hearts, and our fingers. That is working by faith. It
is simply putting our life into God's hand to be used, as one uses a pen
to write, or a brush to paint, or a chisel to carve the
statue.
August 17
Receiving Correction Patiently
Very many people are glad to correct others, and think it
very strange they will not take the correction or criticism patiently, while
if anyone tries the same with them—they quickly resent it. What is good for
another sinner ought to be good for us too. Let us seek for grace to take
correction from those who love us. If a friend tells us of a fault, let us
not get angry, even if he does it awkwardly so as to give us pain. Let us
thank him, and set about to cure the fault. Even from the lips of an enemy
in anger—we may yet get lessons which will do us good to learn.
August 18
Blessing of Conflict
We enter a world of antagonism and opposition—the moment
we resolve at Christ's feet to be Christians, to be true men and women, to
obey God, to forsake sin, to do our Christian duty. There never comes an
hour when we can live nobly without effort, without making resistance to
wrong influences, without struggle against the power of temptation. It never
gets easy to be a worthy and faithful Christian. Sometimes we are almost
ready to give it all up and to cease our struggling; but we should remember
that the spiritual nobleness and beauty after which we are striving—can
become ours only through this very struggling.
August 19
Blessing of Darkness
We shall learn in the end—that the best treasures of life
and character, come out of the dark, painful hours. In days and nights of
pain—we learn endurance. In the struggles with doubt and fear—we find at
last bright blessed faith. In the darkness of sorrow—we learn the song of
joy. In weary suffering—we acquire sweet pity for others. Meet every hard
thing, every obstacle, every trial, every disappointment, every sorrow—with
faith. Be more than conqueror over it, through Him who loved you, and it
will leave blessing, treasure, and enrichment, in your life.
August 20
Christian Conversation
"Your speech should always be gracious." Colossians 4:6.
We are to talk about the bright, beautiful, joyful things around us. The
Christian must not be sanctimonious. Religion suffers from nothing more than
from pious cant. Our talk on business, on science, on pleasure, on
whatever theme, should be fragrant with the perfume of grace. An old proverb
says: "The heart and the tongue are only a span apart." If a man's heart is
touched by the grace of God, his lips will speak ever words of beauty,
truth, and gentle love on whatever theme he may speak.
August 21
Our Personal Creed
How many of us have taken our Bibles—and put the
doctrines of our creed to the proof? Our creeds might be shorter if we did
this; yet if we only believed two or three great doctrines, and believed
them after personal inquiry, and were able to tell why we believed them—it
would be better than if we believed thirty-nine or forty or any number of
doctrines merely because our church teaches them. It is time we
should begin to think earnestly about these things. Every Christian ought to
be able to give an intelligent reason for the faith that is in him. Our
personal creeds ought to grow out of our daily searching of the Word and our
daily living.
August 22
No Strange Mystery There
"We know that all things work together for the good of
those who love God—to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans
8:28. There are depths in the love of God, which are as vast and fathomless
as the ocean—but we are only on the shore. Then there are inscrutable
things in God's providential dealings with each one of us. Heaven will solve
a thousand mysteries for us in a moment. We will then see the reason for
every trial, every pain, every loss, every disappointment. There will not be
a trace of mystery left hanging about any providence. Love will glow
everywhere. Then we shall see clearly, what now we know only by
faith—"that all things work together for the good of those who love
God—to those who are called according to His purpose."
August 23
Loving Unlovely People
"Above all, love each other deeply—because love covers
over a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8. There are some people whom it is
very easy to love. They are congenial to our tastes. They have amiable
qualities or charming manners, or they have befriended us, or they are our
social companions. But there are others who are not congenial—not
amiable—not to our taste. They have unlovely and disagreeable traits. Faults
mar the beauty of their character. Yet if we are Christians—we should not
fail to show brotherly love toward any. We must seek that love, which hides
the multitude of sins and faults.
August 24
Misrepresenting Christ
If we are sour, peevish, easily provoked, surly,
resentful, jealous, envious, bad-tempered in any way—what sort of
impression of Christ do we give to those who know nothing of him—but
what they learn from our lives? Surely if we love Christ truly—we will not
allow ourselves to continue to dishonor him—by living a life so unworthy of
his dear name. Whatever we may do for Christ, in gifts to his cause
or work in his service—if we fail to live out his life of sweet
patience and kindness—we fail of an essential part of our duty as
Christians. "I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have
received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one
another in love." Ephesians 4:1-2
August 25
The Well in the Heart
All noble life must be an inspiration from within—a well
of water springing up—the spontaneous outflow of a full heart. We must seek
to be filled with the divine Spirit. Then self will die. Then our life will
breathe blessings and drop blessings everywhere. Our very look will be full
of kindness. We shall radiate light wherever we move, chasing away the
darkness of others' sorrow. Then, sharing our loaf with the hungry,
our joy with the joyless, our strength with the
fainting—Christ will give us more and more of comfort, joy, strength, and
helpful power, and at last will share with us his own crown and glory. For
the well in the heart—springs up into everlasting life.
August 26
The Blessing of Trust
You cannot take into the innermost circle of your own
heart's friends, one who does not fully trust you. Doubt builds walls
between hearts. Distrust hinders close fellowship. The same is true
in friendship with Jesus. There must be perfect trust—if we would get near
to him. He knows those who trust in him. He feels the touch of every hand
that rests in faith upon his arm. He feels the gentle pressure of every head
that is laid upon his bosom. He hears every sweet breathing of confidence
that goes up from our lips. Oh for that trust that, in every experience of
sorrow and joy, remains calm and unbroken!
August 27
The One Perfect Life
Where do we find the truest, noblest life? There is no
smallest fragment of our humanity, which retains the absolute perfection and
beauty that were in human life as it came first from the Creator's hand. If
we would see life in its wholeness, unmarred, undebased—the highest, purest,
truest life—we must look at Jesus. We are to become like Christ. We should
never, therefore, lose sight of him. Keeping the ideal always before our
eyes will, unconsciously yet powerfully, draw us toward it. "Let us fix our
eyes on Jesus!" Hebrews 12:2. "And we, who with unveiled faces all
contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with
ever-increasing glory!" 2 Corinthians 3:18
August 28
Not in the Easy Paths
We are strongly tempted, in these luxurious days—to seek
out the easy ways in life. Naturally we are not fond of bearing heavy
burdens, of performing hard tasks, of making self-denials. We prefer to be
indolent. Not many people die of overwork; more die of laziness. Souls
are withered, too, by self-indulgence. It is a false idea that God has
sown his blessings thickest. amid the flowers of earth's gardens;
nay, they lie thickest on the bare fields of hardship and toil.
In shrinking from self-denials called for in the path of duty—we are missing
the best things God has to give us. "If anyone would come after me, he must
deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to
save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it."
Luke 9:23-24
August 29
Uselessness of Worry
Worrying about your hard work, does not make the work any
easier—and it only makes you less strong and courageous for doing it.
Worrying about some misfortune which you cannot help—makes the misfortune no
less, and only renders its endurance harder. Thus far even common-sense
goes. Then true religion goes farther, and assures us that even the hard
things, the obstacles and the hindrances, become blessings if we meet them
in faith. They become stepping-stones upward, disciplinary experiences in
which we may grow ever into nobler, stronger life.
August 30
Trust Better Than Questions
We ought not to ask questions about our Father's ways—why
he does this—why he does that. Surely it is better to trust our Father—than
to weary our brain with efforts to solve the mysteries of his providence.
Questions indicate fear or doubt. Perfect trust asks no questions, does not
seek to understand the mysteriousness of God's ways. It says, "Even so,
Father—for so it seems good in your sight," and rests there in perfect
peace. Of course we cannot expect always to understand God's ways—he would
not be God if we could; but we know that God's love is the key to them all,
and that in time, all shall be made clear even to us.
August 31
The Greatest Work
We cultivate benevolence, charity, philanthropy,
patriotism. We feed the hungry, and visit the sick, and minister to the
poor, and provide for the widow and the orphan, and practice generosity. We
emphasize personal character and service. We try to do good to men's bodies.
We educate their minds. We seek their best interests in all physical and
intellectual ways. All this is well so far as it goes; but we have not yet
reached the greatest of all earthly things, the most important of all the
work which a Christian can do. Are we striving to win souls? Are we seeking
the lost to bring them to Christ? Saving souls is earth's greatest work!
September 1
Life's Great Lessons
We all fail in the life-lessons which our great
Teacher sets for us. The hardest school-tasks are easily mastered—in
comparison with the lessons of patience, sweet temper, forgiveness,
unselfishness, humility, gentleness, purity, contentment. Even at best—we
can learn these lessons but slowly. And though but little seems to come from
our yearnings and strugglings after Christ-likeness—yet God honors the
yearning and the striving. While we sit in the shadows of weariness,
disheartened with our failures—he carries on the work within us, and with
his own hands produces the divine beauty in our souls. "Learn from Me,
because I am gentle and humble in heart." Matthew 11:29
September 2
Devotion and Service
He who neglects love's duties of service, in Christ's
name, to those who need the ministry of love—cannot long enjoy the raptures
of worship within the sanctuary. Devotion is not the end of Christian
life; we wait upon God—that we may renew our strength for noble service.
In our eagerness to press within the temple to look upon the face of
God—we must not pass unheeding by the suffering ones who lie with soliciting
glance and voice, outside the temple-gate. Visions of God which lead to no
active service, will soon die out.
September 3
Why Are we so Weak
Every Christian ought to be an apostle of Christ, and
ought to leave a shining record of blessed ministry all along his path. But
how is it with many of us? Is there always power in our lives? Are we always
victorious in temptation? Does life flow out from our lives in perpetual
blessings to others whom we touch or on whom our shadow rests? Is it not
true of us that we continually fail to be, in the largest and best sense,
blessings to others? Do we not come to Christ at the close of many of our
days—to lament our failures and to ask him why we could not do the things we
ought to do? Do we not all know what the answer is?—"Because of your little
faith."
September 4
The Sin of Thoughtlessness
We try to excuse crude things or careless
things we do that hurt others by saying, "I didn't mean any unkindness."
Certainly we did not—it was not in our heart to be crude or brusque, or to
give pain in any way. It was only "lack of thought." Yes—but "lack of
thought" is "lack of heart"—lack of a gentle heart; for a gentle heart
should always be thoughtful—love should never be thoughtless. We have
no right to forget our relations to others, and the duties of love we owe to
them. Nothing can ever excuse a Christian for not being kindly, gentle,
thoughtful, considerate.
September 5
God's Plan—Life's Ideal
People sometimes sentimentalize over the constant changes
and thwartings of plans and the disappointments of life. They grow morbid
over them, and sigh, "Vanity of vanities!" Or they ask, "Why is the
Lord dealing so sorely with me?" The success or non-success of our earthly
plans, is of very little consequence in comparison with the building up of
Christ-likeness in our souls. Do not be surprised if you fail to have your
own way at many a point. God would teach you that true success lies in the
doing of his will—not your own—and the realizing of his plan for your life,
not your plan.
September 6
What We Owe to Friendship
We do not know how much we owe to our true and pure
friends—how much they add to our joy, what they do toward the formation and
the adornment and enrichment of our character. We know not what touches,
delicate and beautiful, on the canvas of our soul there will be
forever—which the fingers of a friend have left there. There will be a
silver thread in every life-web when finished, woven into the fabric by the
pure friendship of many days. How important that only the true, the worthy,
those with clean hands and good lives—be taken as friends! For an evil
companionship will put stained and soiled threads into the
web.
September 7
God's Love, Changeless
Most of us have times when we can say, "Oh, I know that
God loves me now;" but the feeling is transient, and soon passes away.
Tomorrow we are doubting and fearing as before, and the joy has gone out of
our heart. Does God's love, then, change? Did he love me yesterday, and does
he not love me today? Has the divine heart unclasped its hold upon
me? No! The love of God is changeless and eternal. Heaven and earth may pass
away—but the kindness of the Lord shall never depart from any of his
children! Let us try to grasp this truth. Then, come what may—joy or sorrow,
prosperity or adversity—we shall know always that the love of God abides
unchanging—that we are held in its clasp with a hold that never can be torn
loose.
September 8
Brotherly Love
There is no true love to Christ—which does not also
kindle in our hearts a corresponding love to men. He who loves not his
brother whom he has seen—cannot love God whom he has not seen. Brotherly
love is the very proof and badge of Christian discipleship.
This love is not in name merely—but is real. It is a love that
protects and helps; a love which keeps sacred watch over the good name of a
brother, and by a strong arm averts the descending blow; a love which seeks
every opportunity to bless and cheer and comfort; a love which serves and
forgets self in loyal devotion even to death for a brother. In a
word, it is, "as I have loved you." And how does Christ love us? To answer
this—is to tell how he would have us love the brethren. We can thus read the
meaning of the lesson, in the blessed life of our Lord.
September 9
Besetting Sins
The best things of life come to us wrapped up in
difficulties, obstacles, seeming hindrances and oppositions. Unless we meet
them heroically and victoriously, we shall miss God's richest and best gifts
and treasures. It is hard, for example, to have a besetting sin, one
specially weak point, one temptation which comes perpetually up to us,
stalking like a Goliath before us. Some of us know what it is to have sins
which we do not overcome, which we do not even wrestle with—but which we
allow to overcome us again and again. But do we not know that these very
besetting sins are enemies, which can be made friends to help us heavenward?
September 10
Silent Work
All the greatest work of this world goes on
noiselessly. Only little workers clatter. God, both in nature and
in grace, works silently. The angels go about noiselessly on their
blessed ministries. So the best work any of us do, is what we do without
noise. Our words give forth sound—but it is not the sounds which do good,
which brighten people's sad faces, which change tears to laughter, which
stimulate hope, which put courage into fainting hearts; it is not the noise
of our words—but the thoughts which the words carry. The best
part of any good man's life is his influence—that strange, impalpable
something, which goes out evermore from his character like fragrance from a
flower, like light from a star; and influence works always in
silence, without words.
September 11
Taking Thought
There is one thing for which we are to take thought—not
anxious thought—but very deep and earnest thought. We are to take thought
about our duty, about our work, about doing God's will, and filling our
place in God's world, and taking our part in advancing the heavenly kingdom.
Too many people worry far more about their food and clothing, lest they
shall be left to poverty; than they do about doing their whole duty. That
is, they are more anxious about God's part in their lives than about
their own part. They fear that God may not take care of
them—but they do not seem to have any fear that they themselves may
fail in duty, or in fidelity to him.
September 12
The Beautiful Vision
"We know that when He appears—we will be like Him!" 1
John 3:2. As the beauty of Christ's character glows before us in the light
of the Gospels—we should say, "That is what I am to be some day! I am now
very far from it—but I am to reach it. That is my assured destiny!" Such a
hope cherished in the heart, has a wondrous uplifting power.
Since we are so soon to be like Christ—we should seek to
grow continually in grace and virtue. We should daily be getting a little
more like Christ in character, in temper, in disposition, in affection. Our
aim should be to bring every thought, and every emotion, and every
desire—into sweet subjection to Christ. We should not only cherish the
blessed vision —but should seek daily to grow into its divine beauty!
September 13
Our Father's house
We are in the Father's house in this world—though not in
the best room of it—because sin has marred everything here. Still we are in
the Father's house. His care is over us continually. His love
pours its brightness all about us. His hand provides for our needs.
Let us not think basely of earth—for it is part of our Father's house. How
near it brings heaven to us—to think of it as but another room in our
Father's house! The life in heaven, is not a new life—but is simply the life
we begin here—which is continued there, with sin taken out—and
imperfection and all pain and suffering left forever
behind.
September 14
Saying Good-Byes
Since any good-bye may be for years or may be
forever—should we not always part from our friends tenderly, kindly,
lovingly? We should never separate in any angry mood, with bitterness in our
hearts, with unforgiveness or misunderstanding, as we may never again have
an opportunity to set things right. We should never say good-bye
carelessly or coldly—but with thoughtful love. We should strive to make our
every briefest good-bye, as sweet and kindly enough for a
last good-bye, should it prove to be the last—as it may be.
September 15
Religion for All Days
Intense aspirations for holiness, sometimes seem to unfit
people for living in this world. Christ never meant it to be so, however,
and such religion is lacking somewhere. You do not need a religion, which
will lift you up out of the weekday world—into a seventh heaven of
rapture, making you forget your duties to those about you. You need a
religion which will bring God down to walk with you in all the hard paths of
toil and service, making even drudgery—divine, and routine and commonplace
toil—a joy. That is what Christ wants to be to us.
September 16
God's Thought for Us
God has a plan for our life—for each individual life.
There is something that he made us for; he has a thought in his mind for us,
something he wants us to be and to do. Now we can never be
what God wants us to be—except by doing his will day by day.
Disobedience or lack of submission at any point, will mar the perfectness of
his plan for us. We know that whatever he wills for us—is for us the highest
possible good. God's will for us, is always blessing. It will lead us at
every step—in the best way home. It will fashion in us each day—a little
more fully the image of Christ.
September 17
The Safest Place
The safest place in all this world—is ever the place of
duty. God's wings are over it. God's peace guards it. It is said that
at the center of the cyclone, that there is a spot where there is almost
perfect calm. A leaf there is scarcely stirred, and a baby could lie there
unharmed. So at the center of every great peril in life, is a spot of
holy calm where even the feeblest would not be harmed. It is the place
of duty, of obedience, of the doing of God's will. He who stays there amid
peril and trial—is perfectly safe. No storm smites him, no plague comes near
his dwelling. The way of duty, is always a place of absolute safety. But he
who departs from this charmed center, soon finds himself caught in the wild
swirl and in peril. None of sin's ways are safe.
September 18
Dying Grace
Many people worry because they do not seem to have "dying
grace." They still fear death, and shrink from it. But God has never
promised dying grace, when one's duty is to live. Grace for
duty, for toil, for love, for honesty, for earnest service in every good
cause, for brave struggle, for unselfish ministry, for holy influence; grace
for noble and beautiful living, and for loyal devotion to Christ while the
heart's pulses are steady, and while God wants us still in this world—but
not yet grace for dying, since death is far away. Then—grace for
dying when the life's work is done, its duty finished, and the call comes to
leave this world and go home. Will not that be soon enough for dying grace
to be bestowed?
September 19
The Touch of Christ
"Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and
touched the man." Mark 1:41. No one can read the gospel story without
being impressed with the marvelous power of Christ's touch. Wherever
it was felt—blessing came. We find ourselves sometimes mourning the loss of
this touch, and wishing that we could feel it and get its blessing. But
really we have not lost it. Christ has indeed passed out of our sight into
the heavens—but his hand is stretched out still. It is laid just as of old
upon sufferers, and has lost none of its power to comfort, to heal, to open
blind eyes. Christ lays his hand upon our heads every time we bow at his
feet in prayer. When we are in trouble—he comes and comforts us with his
warm touch of sympathy. When we are sick or in pain—he is by our bed, and
his hand is laid on our fevered brow to give rest and peace.
September 20
Serving Christ for Himself
We are ready for usefulness—just in the measure in which
we have learned the lesson of self-forgetfulness. SELF stands in the
way of many glorious possibilities of good. Men drag their own personal
interests into the cause they are serving. They stickle for honor and place,
and demand recognition, appreciation, and reward. Appreciation and gratitude
are very sweet. Who does not love to receive words of commendation? But if
such words do not come—if, instead, wrong and injustice come—our zeal for
Christ should be no less intense. Let us so sink ourselves in the cause of
Christ—that our loyalty, devotion, and fidelity shall in no way be affected
either by honor or neglect, by praise or blame.
September 21
To Make Men Better
Our mission as Christians in this world—is to do good to
the worst people—to comfort, to help, to bless, to save. We are debtors to
all men. We owe to everyone we meet, some blessing. We have an errand to
everyone. Where we can see no beauty—we are to seek to put the beauty of
holiness; where we find only enmity and rage and wrong—we are to seek by
patient love, to overcome the evil with good. So, always forgetting
ourselves and our rights—we are to strive to save others for heaven. If we
go among men with this motive in our hearts—we shall have great joy in doing
good, even to the lowliest.
September 22
Peace Before Ministry
We are in no condition for good work of any kind—when we
are fretted and anxious in our minds. It is only when the peace of God is in
our heart, that we are ready for true and helpful ministry. A feverish heart
makes a worried face, and a worried face casts shadows wherever the person
goes. A troubled spirit mars the temper and the disposition. It makes the
whole life less beautiful. It unfits one for giving cheer and inspiration,
for touching other lives with good and helpful impulses. Peace must
come before ministry. It was when Jesus had touched the sufferer's
hand and the fever had left her—that she arose and ministered unto her
friends.
September 23
Beyond Pain's Valley
Many of the richest possibilities of prayer, lie beyond
valleys of pain and sorrow. The best things of life cannot be gotten, except
at great cost. When we pray for more holiness, we do not know what we are
asking for; at least we do not know the price we must pay to get that
which we ask. Our "Nearer, my God, to you," must be conditioned by, and
often can come only through, "even though it be a cross, that raises me."
Not only are the spiritual things the best things—but many times the
spiritual things can be grasped only by letting go and losing out of our
hands, the earthly things we would love to keep. God loves us too much to
answer prayers for comfort and relief, even when we make them, if he can do
it only at spiritual loss to us. He would rather let it be hard for us to
live—if there is blessing in the hardness, than make it easy for us, at the
cost of the blessing.
September 24
God's Dark Room
The noblest, richest, purest, and most fruitful lives in
this world—have always been lives of sufferers. There are elements of
loveliness in the depths of every human soul which the fires of pain
alone, can bring out. The photographer carries his picture into a darkened
room to develop it. God often takes his children into the chamber of pain,
and draws the curtains, while he brings out the features of his own image,
which before had been there in but dim and shadowy outlines.
September 25
The Human Not Enough
Sometimes we are in danger of putting our trust in our
human friends rather than in the divine Friend. God comes to us still in
human forms. He reveals his sympathy and love through human hearts.
He speaks to us through human lips. He guides us by human hands.
But if the human is all we get, if we do not learn to cling to God, and lean
upon the divine arm beneath the human arm, and look to God for the blessings
we need—dark for us will be the hour when the human falls away—and we are
left alone in the darkness. Wherever, in whatever form and by
whoever you are led first to know God—be sure that it is God whom you
know and trust.
September 26
Misrepresentation
Life is full of misinterpretations. Many of us have wrong
opinions of others. We think they do not care for us—when they really do. We
imagine they are angry at us—when there is not a shade of unkind feeling in
their heart. We misinterpret their acts. Many a time things which
offend us, if we but understood the motive which prompted them and the true
love which is in them, would appear really beautiful in our eyes. We ought
to guard continually against these misinterpretations. They do wrong to
others. They rob our own hearts of peace. "Love thinks no evil." Let us be
sure always that we see an act in its proper light.
September 27
Little White Lies
People talk about "little white lies"—little deceptions,
concealments, false appearances, subterfuges—as if they were not
particularly wrong. But he who would be true—must be true through and
through, in the innermost depths of his being and in the smallest affairs—as
well as the largest. He must simply be true. Let your soul of truth be as
pure and unstained as the snowflakes when they fall from the cloud. There
really are no "little white lies;" all lies are black. Falsehood is from the
devil—no matter whether it is merely a look or a silence which
deceives—or whether it is an uttered untruth. Let us learn to be true for
God's eye.
September 28
Such As We Have
We can do a great deal of the wisest, truest good among
men—without giving money. A strong hand reached out to help a fallen one
rise again—is better than money. New hope and fresh courage put into a
discouraged heart—are better than money. True comfort, enabling one in
sorrow to pass through it sustained and victorious—is better than money. Let
no one say he cannot do anything for others, unless he has money to give.
Use what you have! Heart-coins and life-coins, are better than
coins from the mint. The things we do for men's souls—are far more
important to them—than the things we do merely for their bodies.
Besides, all God asks us to give to others—is of such as we have.
September 29
God Guiding Our Steps
"Direct my footsteps according to Your Word; let no sin
rule over me." Psalm 119:133. This is a prayer which should always be on our
lips. We should get our direction from God, not once in our life only, when
we first give ourselves to Him; not at the opening of each day only, as we
go forth to the day's task; not merely at the beginning of each new piece of
work or of each fresh task—but every moment, for each step. That is what
"walking with God" means.
We may make this so real, that we shall look up into
God's face continually, asking, "What next, dear Lord? What shall I do now?
Which course shall I take today? How shall I do this duty?" If we can but
have God's guidance and help for the little short steps—we need not fear for
the long miles—the great stretches of road. If each step is of His
directing—the long miles will be paths of His choosing. "Direct my footsteps
according to Your Word; let no sin rule over me." Psalm 119:133
September 30
Empty Hands
"Full hands" at the end of a life—do not always tell of
true success. Earthly failure is ofttimes higher success in God's
eyes—than what men regard as "success". Scars of wounds gotten in conflict
and strife with sin—are more splendid marks of honor, when the hands are
held up before God—than diamonds and gold and crowns gained by yielding in
life's conflicts. Strive to get your hands filled with the invisible things
of God's heavenly kingdom. Fight the battles of life heroically, and never
mind the scars. Better have wounded and empty hands which are clean—than
hands which are full, and yet are stained with sin.