April

LET your light so sJiine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

—Matthew 5: 16.

My light is not to fall upon myself but upon my consecrated work. The worker is to be invisible or obscure. And more especially the light is to so fall upon the work as to reveal the One who inspired it. When men see my triumphs they are not to be constrained to praise me but rather to worship my God.

0 Lord my God, let all glory of mine glorify Thee. My little lamps were kindled at Thy sun. Whatever I have bears the seal of Thy grace. Let men behold Thy marks and give Thee all the praise. For the Saviour ’s sake. Amen.

aprfl 2.

LET him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. — 1 Corinthians 10: 12.

Our most perilous seasons are when we think we are absolutely secure. The moment of victory is beset by the danger of reaction. We are lulled into peril by our triumph. We take it easy; and in the easy moment the tempter wins his triumphs. And therefore our best hours may easily become our worst.

0 Lord my God, I humbly seek Thy defence in the brightest hours. Gird me with Thy power when I glow with triumph. Clothe me with Thine armour when no enemy seems near. Let me be more than conqueror in Christ my Saviour. For His sake. Amen.

Hpril 3.

THEY are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

—John 17: 16.

What is worldliness? It is human activity with God left out. It is life which is horizontal and not vertical. It is ambition without aspiration. It aims at success and not at holiness. Its motto is forward, not upward.

0 God my Father, I pray that I may be in the world and yet not of it. Let me bring into its affairs a citizenship which is of heaven. Let me do everything according to the pattern shown me in the mount. May I do common things in divine communion. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

Hpril 4.

AND the Spirit and the hride say. Come. And let him that heareth say, Gome. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let Mm take the water of life freely.

—Revelation 22: 17.

When I have heard the calling of the Lord I am to be a caller too. He that heareth is to say, Come! Having become a disciple I must now become an apostle. Having been redeemed I must engage in the services of the Redeemer.

My Father in Heaven, may I be among the tellers of Thy good news. Let me be among those who are out in the highways inviting others to the feast. Let me be continually seeking new guests for Thy table. Let it be my joy to behold the joy of those whom I have won to Thy feet. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

aprfl 5.

HIS pavilions round about him were thick clouds

of the skies. — Psalm 18: 11.

THE clouds dropped down the dew.

—Proverbs 3: 20.

It is not only prosperity which glows with the seal of God’s favour; adversity also may be the proof of His grace. When the cloud is forming it means the sun is working. Rain-drops can be traced to sunbeams. Love yearns to send a gentle rain, and so love prepares a cloud. The cloud is part of the answer to our prayer for the dew.

My Father God, lead me into the secret of perfect trust. Help me to believe that Thy clouds will break with blessing. Give me the faith that even the darkness cannot hide the ministries of grace. Let me see, even in the black chariot, the messenger of eternal love. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

aprii 0.

HE shall not strive, nor cry, neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench. — Matthew 12: 19, 20.

As it is with the Master so it is with the disciple. He will erect no altar to the goddess of discord. Life shall not be spent in idle controversy. The disciples’ life shall not be sensational. There shall be nothing loud about it, nothing overdone. Jesus hated a mere street religion. He could not do with a piety that advertised itself to gain public applause.

My Father God, save me from making a cheap business of sacred things. Let me not make my piety a means of self-display. Let me hide myself in Thee. Let everything be done in Thy name and to Thy glory. So sanctify this day in Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

Hpril 7.

HO, every one that tJiirstefh, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, l)uy and eat. Yea, come, buy wine and milk mthout money and without price. Incline your ear, and come unto Me; Hear, and your soul shall live. — Isaiah 55: 1, 3.

Here is a call to the faint and weary. What is he to do? There is first of all to be a discipline of the ear. There is to be a determined and resolute effort to listen to God. And what is the next step? We are to listen and then yield. Eight hearing necessitates strong doing. Know, and then dare!

Holy Father, graciously sanctify my hearing. Let it be consecrated to the knowledge of Thy will. And graciously sanctify my will; let it be consecrated to Thine obedience. Let me find the right road; then let me run in the way of Thy commandments. For the Saviour’s sake. Amen.

Hpril 8.

I CAN do all things in Christ Who strengtheneth me. — Phiuppians 4: 13.

That is how the level of human possibility is raised. When a man comes to be in Christ he adds cubits unto his stature. He acquires strangely increased powers of command. He can dominate the circumstances which have hitherto mastered him. He moves with the march of the conqueror.

Most mighty God, I pray that I may be strengthened in Christ Jesus. I ask for the power which will turn my warfare into triumph. Take away my fear of what is ia front of me. Give me a happy sense that in Christ I am master of the entire road. For His sake. Amen.

apdl 9.

AND it came to pass in those days, that Jesus went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

—Luke 6: 12.

Mountain and garden were the allies of the Saviour’s spirit. They were silent Greathearts who ministered to Him in the pilgrim way. He sought the mountain when He was pondering over great decisions. He was found in a garden in the night in which He was betrayed. They helped Him in divine communion.

0 Lord my God, let me get apart with Thee. Save me from the crushing pressure of the world. Graciously give me leisure from myself, and let me share the heavenly peace. Create about me an air of quietness, and make me strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. For the Saviour’s sake. Amen.

Hpril 10.

TAKE heed to yourselves; if thy brother sin against thee, rebuke him, and if he repent, forgive him, and if he sin against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent, thou shalt forgive him. — Luke 17: 3, 4.

There are rebukes and rebukes. There is rebuke which is only intended to satisfy the offended, and there is rebuke which is purposed to rectify the offender. A Christian rebuke is to be given, not so much for the relief of my wound, but for the healing of him who inflicted it.

0 Lord my God, give me the grace of forgiveness. Help me to consider my brother more than myself. Let me seek his healing rather than the gratifying of the spirit of revenge. Let me not take the sword of judgment. Let me rather be a good physician, abounding in ministries of healing. For Christ ’s sake. Amen.

apdi 11.

I WILL pay Thee my vows, which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in distress. — Psalm 66: 13, 14.

In our distress we make vows unto the Lord. When we are sick we are full of good intentions. “When the distress passes away the vow is apt to pass with it. When our trouble is over the Lord is often forgotten. We are faithless when the light returns.

0 Lord my God, let me keep my troth which I made in the darkness. Let not the returning light make me false and disloyal. Let every deliverance deepen my service and my praise. Let my liberty speed my feet on larger missions. For the Saviour’s sake. Amen.

Bpvil 12.

FOR ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord; walk as children of light; for the fruit of light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth. — Bphesians 5: 8, 9.

The disciples easily lost heart, and the cloudy days filled them with dismay. But after they had received the Holy Spirit we never find the despondent or despairing note. Ever and everywhere they are optimists in spirit. They can live in the distant June even in the dingy days of December.

0 Lord my God, graciously make me a child of light. May my spirit be illumined with the radiance of the Christian hope. May I carry inspiring cheer into all my fellowships. May I sing in the power of the coming morning even, when I am journeying through the night. For the Saviour ’s sake. Amen.

Hpril 13.

WE are more than conquerors in Him that loved ^fs. — Romans 8: 37.

There are some men who are masters of living well. They do not merely meet the demands of duty. There is an overflow of goodness which runs beyond the moral demand. Their cup runneth over. When they fight a battle, they are not half-slain by victory. They can do all and abound.

0 God of all Grace, help me to believe that I can live the victorious life. Gird me with Thy holy strength. Let me fight my battle as more than conqueror. Let the abundance of Thy grace be seen in the completeness of my moral triumphs. For the Redeemer’s sake. Amen.

april 14.

I WILL lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, who mad& Heaven and earth.

—Psalm 121: 1, 2.

Every life must have an Alpine district. The mountains of rectitude are gathered in awe-inspiring majesty. The rivers of grace have their rise in these Alps of righteousness. The river of water of life flows out of the great white throne. Get thee up into the high mountains!

Almighty God, I pray that in my life the mountains of holiness may shine with snow-white splendour. May they overlook all the little affairs that fill up my little day. When I lift mine eyes may I see them in all their glory. Thy righteousness is like the great mountains. For Christ ’s sake. Amen.

Hpril 15.

EVERT good tree hringeth forth good fruit, hut a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.... Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. — Matthew 7: 17, 18, 20.

“We are to be perfectly honest with our findings. If we find grapes we are to infer a vine, and not to suggest they are the product of a thorn. If we come upon figs, we are to infer a fig tree, and not to suspect that they were born on a thistle. We are not to belie our moral intelligence. Wherever I find noble spiritual fruit I am to reason that it is a fruit of the Spirit.

0 Lord my God, make me familiar with the fi’uits of Thy vine. When I find Thy graces in the lives of my fellows, let me recognize Thy fellowship. Cleanse my eyes from all prejudice. Help me to see the lovely wherever it is to be found. For His sake. Amen.

april 16.

OTHER sheep I Mve which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice, and there shall he one flock, one Shepherd. — John 10: 16.

And yet we are tempted to think that all His sheep are in one fold, and we look with sharp suspicion on those that are outside our walls. We almost bluntly deny them a part in the tender Shepherd’s care. There is a reluctance of recognition, a want of generous candour, a disposition to withhold the right names from things, which is painful evidence that we severely limit the Shepherd’s flock.

Eternal God, the Father of all men, give me larger fellowship with my fellow men. Let me rejoice in the whole family of the redeemed. Let me recognize Thy grace in their spirit. Let me see Thy name in their foreheads. Make me eager to claim kinship with all for whom my Saviour died. For His sake. Amen.

Bpril 17.

THY Kingdom come. Thy will te done on earth as it is in Heaven. — Matthew 6: 10.

The Kingdom comes just as God’s thought and Spirit become dominant — His grace pervading human affection,

His counsel illumining human judgment, His purpose visioning human desire, His will controlling human movements. The Kingdom comes just as human relationships are shaped and beautified by the character of God.

0 Lord my God, let Thy holy will be done in me. Let me surrender everything to Thy sovereignty, and so make Thy Kingdom come. Let me withhold nothing from Thy Lordship and control. Let me have no closed doors, no secret rooms. Take my life, and let it be consecrated Lord to Thee. Amen.

Bpttl 18.

ACCORDING to your faith he it unto you.

—Matthew 9: 29. LORD increase our faith. — ^Ltike 17: 5.

Faith puts the soul in the attitude of reception. The health of the soul consists in the fulness of its receptiveness. It is the nature of God to be ever giving, it is the ministry of faith to be ever receiving.

Holy Father, I pray that all the doors of my life may be open to Thee. Thy bounty is waiting. Help me to receive it. May I so live that at all hours of day and night Thy heavenly merchandise can find entry into my soul. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.

aprtl 19.

AND He showed me a pure river of the water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

—Revelation 22: 1.

The river is pure as crystal. I have watched a strong and impetuous stream, born after heavy rains, pouring its fulness into a stagnant pool, which had become the home of corruption. In the energy of its presence the corruption was unloosed and carried away until the pool was left clean and clear as a sea of glass. And such is to be the influence of the disciples of Christ upon the established corruption of our day.

Eternal God, let my life be the enemy of all corruption. Let it be a river of water of life, clear as crystal. Let it purify wherever it flows. Let it carry the energies of holiness which it found in the great white throne. Let me be pure, even as Thou art pure. For the Saviour ’s sake. Amen.

Hprfl 20.

BLESSED is the man who feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in His commandments.

—Psalm 112:1.

That is a strange wedding. Fear is married to delight. If we had the fear without the joy, it would be the fearfulness of a slave. But this is not the tremor of fright. It is the trembling sensitiveness of a young girl who hears the footfall of her lover as he draws near to her gate.

My Gracious Father, may this wedded pair of fear and holy joy dwell in my heart. I would not be afraid before Thee. I would have the reverence which is the spring of purest joy. For my Saviour’s sake. Amen.

aprtl 21.

IN the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink; as the scripture hath said. Out of him shall flow rivers of living water. — John 7: 37, 38.

We cannot have springs without streams. Fountains make rivers. “When the divine life possesses the soul it flows over in gracious ministries among our fellow men. The affluence becomes an influence imparting itself to others. Withered things are freshened wherever the rivers flow.

0 Lord my God, I humbly pray that these rivers of gracious influence may flow out of me. Let them revive the thirsty ground. Let hardened souls be moistened by my grace. Let lives in which desire is dried up feel the refreshment of my sympathy. All my springs are in Thee; let my cup run over. Amen.

aprtl 22.

MAKE straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way.

—Hebekws 12: 13.

Everything we say or do is preparing the road for those who are coming after. We are either making it easier or more difficult. What kind of a road-maker am I? And will some brother bless the day that ever I came this way?

My Father in Heaven, help me so to live that the way of life may be easier for those who come behind me. Let me take some stones out of the way. Let me smooth some rough places. Let me leave a kindly light and a refreshing fragrance that will cheer the pilgrims on their way. For my Saviour’s sake. Amen.

Hprtl 23.

I WOULD have ye know that the things which happened unto me have turned out rather unto the progress of the Gospel.

—Philippians 1: 12.

What seemed to be misfortune was turned to good fortune. It appeared as though the apostles’ ministry was ended, but the imprisoned water broke out and flowed another way. God can turn the apparent adversity into the channel of His grace.

My Father in Heaven, let me not be despondent when my circumstances seem unfriendly. Help me to believe in Thy power to make even the enemy the friend of my spirit. Thou canst bring honey out of the lion. Let my present circumstances pay tribute to my spirit, and bring glory to Thy Name. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

Hprll 24.

AND when the tempter came to Eim, he said, If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But He answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

—Matthew 4:3, 4.

One of the most deadly temptations in life is to mistake a thoroughfare for a terminus, and to regard what is intended to be a means as an ultimate end. When we make a material thing a termiaus we only exist; when we make the material a thoroughfare to the spiritual we begin to live.

Eternal God, lead me into such a wise use of means that they may bring me to Thine own ends. Let me not loiter on the road and make the road my home. Let me pass through everything to Thee. Let everything be a way into the secret place of the Most High. Let to me to live be Christ. For His sake. Amen*

Hpril 25.

AGAIN the devil taketh Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them; and saith unto Him, All these things will I give Thee if Thou wilt fall down and worship me. — Matthew 4:8, 9.

That is the enemy’s bargain. He offers a temporality and demands a spirituality. He offers reputation and demands a character. He offers a show of liberty, but his terms are spiritual servitude. He offers possessions, but the price is degradation.

Holy Father, mightily deliver me from the seductive power of material things. Let me not be overcome by the glaring shows of the world. Keep mine eyes jSxed upon the treasures of Heaven. Let me set my supreme regard upon the unsearchable riches of Christ. For His sake. Amen.

Hprtl 20.

HE shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire. — ^Ltjke 3: 16.

This is the fire which saves us from lukewarm goodness, and which makes every virtue an enthusiasm. It not only makes our religion passionate, it makes it warm and winsome. It makes a man bum and shine.

Heavenly Father, may I be baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire, so that every part of my being may glow with Thy glory. Let no interest in my life be unillumined. Let every room in my soul be lit up as one of the many mansions of my God. In Christ’s name. Amen.

Hpril 27.

THE Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus: for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain, but when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently and found me.

—2 Timothy 1: 16-18.

He oft refreshed me! The suggestion is that of a current of fresh air coming, and reviving coolness after heat. This obscure disciple brought to the apostle the ministry of the morning breeze. Onesiphorus was a bringer of fresh air to the faint. The obscure disciple was a minister of refreshment to the great apostle.

My Father God, I pray that I may take the morning air to the fainting children of men. May I carry inspiration to their wearied spirits. When I go into their fellowship may their hearts be revived. Graciously quicken me so that I may quicken others. Let me be a minister of Thy breath, 0 breath of the living God! Amen.

aprfl 28. IN Thy light shall we see light. — Psalm 36: 9.

There are some lights which only confuse us. They are as bewildering as the fierce approaching lights of a motor-car. They do not help us to see, they make us blind. And so it is with the lights of the world; they delude our vision. It is only in our Father’s light that everything is seen as it truly is.

Father of all light, grant me Thy light to do my work. Save me from the false lights of the world. Let me not be blinded by its glamour. Let Thy kindly ray fall upon everything. May I see everything with the very eyes of Christ. For His sake. Amen. j

Hpdl 29.

AND as He prayed His sweat was as it were great drops of blood. — Luke 22: 44.

Has our season of prayer any resemblance to this? Does it suggest energy and sacrifice, even to the point of blood? Are our intercessions weighted with purpose, and have we the demeanour of an armed man cleaving his way to some shining palace of gold? How much do we put into it? Have we only played at praying? Perhaps we have put nothing into it, and therefore we have taken nothing out.

Almighty God, give me increased power in my spiritual life. Kindle in my heart the fire of a great enthusiasm. Change my lukewarmness into sacred passion. Baptize me with the Holy Ghost and with fire. For the Saviour’s sake. Amen.

Hpril 30.

A CERTAIN noileman called Ms ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Trade ye herewith till I come.

—Luke 19: 12, 13.

And what is the capital with which we have to trade? What capital did the Master Himself invest in the affairs of men? He had a capital of thought and He invested it in thoughtfulness. He had a capital of emotion, and He invested it in widest sympathy. He had a capital of conscience and ideal and He invested it in the exploration and correction of crookedness. And He had a capital of will, and He invested its power in the ministry of rectitude and truth.

My Father in Heaven, let me be very eager in Thy business. Help me to invest my powers in the purposes of Thy Kingdom. Let no endowments be idle, or used in wasteful exercise. Let me gain rich interest in Thy service, and so glorify Thy holy name. For His sake. Amen.