May

He leadeth me in green pastures, and by siill waters; He restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in paths of righteousness for His Name’s sake.

—Psalm 23: 2, 3.

The movement in the first sentence is like walking on the banks of a river on some quiet Saturday night, when the work of the week is over, and the very beasts of the field seem to have begun their Sabbath rest. In the last sentence the surroundings are altogether changed. Best becomes action. Relaxation becomes strenuousness. Life becomes militant. But the same Guide “Who leads by the waters of rest also leads into the exacting and exhausting ways of righteousness.

Eternal God, I thank Thee for Thy companionship in quiet ways. Give me the assurance that in the changing road I caji have the grace of the unchanging God. Let Thy leadership accompany me all along the way until faith merges into sight, and I find myself at home in my Father’s house. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

THERE was given, to me a thorn in the flesh... lest I should fee exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from me. And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for My strength is made perfect in weakness.

—2 Corinthians 12: 7-9.

Here is the vivid lesson shining across the apostle’s consecrated life; he prayed, and yet the thorn remained. But grace was given whereby the very infirmity became the servant of his strength and a minister to the glory of God. If the thorn were removed one of the helpers of our health and progress would be gone. By the very retention of the thorn faith is nourished, and ordered power, and the faculty to apprehend the glory of God as He is pleased to reveal it.

0 Lord my God, I bless Thee for the ministry of the thorn that remains. I thank Thee that the instrument of pain can be the helpmeet of grace. I am grateful that the thing that lays me low can lift my spirit high. Deepen this holy confidence that all things work together for good to them that love Thee. Amen.

/IJas 3.

AND He saith unto the man which Jiad a witJiered hand, Stand forth.... He saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand, and he stretched out his hand; and it was restored whole as the other. — ^Makk 3:3, 5.

There are withered faculties of the soul. There are mysterious hands which can lose their grip and even their power to apprehend the heights. The faculty of love can be a withered hand, the faculty of hope can be a withered hand. The conscience can be a withered hand. The will may be a withered hand. But if we bring them to Him Who made them He will remake them by the power of His grace.

Holy Father, I bring my withered things to Thee. Quicken them by the power of Thy resurrection. Call my dead things out of their graves. Make them live and rejoice in the light of Thy countenance. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

/IDap 4.

MY sheep hear My voice, and I know them when they follow Me; and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.

—John 10: 27, 28.

And therefore it is not that I have to cling to the Lord, I am to permit Him “COME YB APAET” 91

to cling to me. My fingers would grow weary, they would slip from the rock, and I should tumble into the deep. But the Lord holds me, and that is my security. I rest in the hollow of His hand.

0 Lord my God, let me not foolishly depend upon my own weakness. Let my piety be not so much a clinging as a resting. Let me have communion with Thee and draw my power from Thy marvellous might. Let me be safe in Thy controlling hands. For His sake. Amen.

HE that findetJi his life shall lose it and he that loseth his life for My sake shall find it.

—Matthew 10: 39.

This is the secret of Jesus; life is sustained and enriched by expression, by endurance, and by sacrifice. We discover while we evangelize. Our torch emits new flame while we light the lamps of others.

My loving God, teach me Thy secret. Let me learn it at Bethlehem and at Calvary. Save me from the folly of trying to make my life a pool when it is purposed to be a river. Let Thy grace flow into me, and let it flow out again in gracious service. For the Saviour’s sake. Amen.

FOE as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, even so our comfort also aboundeth through Christ. — 2 Gokinthians 1: 5.

There are sufferings which we can partially share with our Lord. There are the sufferings which haunt the very existence of a majestic purpose. There are sufferings which are incident to the passive antagonism of the indifferent. There are sufferings which are incident to the active antagonism of our foes. Our fellowship with His sorrows makes us receptive of His joys.

My Father God, I humbly pray that I may not refuse my cross and thereby lose my crown. Let me not be daunted by suffering if it is found in the highway of the Lord. Let me march forward with quiet heart and confidence. Let me find Thy springs in the rugged ways, and wells of consolation in the wilderness of grief. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

/iDa 7.

THEN they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, Father, I thank Thee that Thou hast heard me. — John 11: 41.

The Master gave thanks before the miracle was wrought. The doxology was sung at the beginning and not at the end. Have I learned this habit? Do I rear my altar of praise before I take my sword? Do I go forth in the morning to the warfare of the day with thanks for coming victory filling me with the exhilaration of a powerful hope?

0 Lord my God, I pray for the spirit of grateful confidence. Let me be able to sing my song of victory even before the triumph is won. Let the gift which is on the way make my soul abound with praise. Let me foresee the mercy of to-morrow and let it fill my soul with holy joy. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

jflDay 8.

FOR me to live is Christ. — Philippians 1: 21.

The first condition of real life is something to love, and the second condition is something to revere. Love without reverence is a destructive fever; reverence without love is a perpetual frost. The real life, the highest life, is found in the uniting of love and reverence for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Heavenly Father, deliver me from a life that is only a flippant emotion. Deliver me from irreverence which is harsh and ungentle. Let me find my life in a reverent love which discovers the secrets of the Most High. Let to me to live be Christ. For His sake. Amen.

HIS leaf also shall not wither, and in whatsoever he doeth, he shall prosper. — Psalm 1: 3.

The leaf is the thing of the spring-time. How soon its sweet greenness passes into the darker shades of summer and becomes sere and yellow in the older days of autumn! Here is a religious life whose spring glory shall not wither as the years roll away. The fresh green growths of hope and sjonpathy will be fragrant in life’s autumn time, and away to the very end. “Who does not know the souls who carry the charm of childhood into remote old age?

Almighty God, I pray for this unwithering leaf. I pray that the leaf of hope may not wither as I grow older. I pray that the leaf of sympathy may not fade. I pray that the sweet leaf of fragrant love may not grow sickly with the years. Let Thy grace abound with the increase of my days. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

/IDa 10.

LET your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ. — Philippians 1: 27.

Is my citizenship one of continued getting, getting, getting, and is there in it no altar of sacrifice, no cross, no Calvary? In all ideal citizenship there is the shedding of blood. The ideal citizen, the apostolic citizen, pursues the ends of sound redemption by the sacrifice of himself.

0 Lord my God, I pray that I may share the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Let my life be worthy to bear His name. Let me carry my cross as He carried His. Let me surrender my life in the service of my fellow men. Glorify Thyself in me. For His sake. Amen.

THEY shall heat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks. — Isa.2:4.

Wherever Jesus reigns this is one of the fruits of His sovereignty. The sword is not destroyed, it is transformed. The power is not annihilated, it is converted. Wherever He finds an implement of destruction He changes it into an implement of spiritual culture. A converted force is force with the destructive element taken out.

0 Lord my God, I pray that Thou wilt change the destructive things in my life, and make them the ministers of spiritual growth. Sanctify my passions. Hallow the strength ol my ambitions. Transform my wit and humour Let my shrewdness be a labourer in Thy Kingdom. Make all my powers the servants of Thy holy will. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

/IDa 12,

THEY fell down and worshipped God that sitteth on the throne, saying, Amen; Hallelujah. — Revelation 19: 4.

“Amen,” a note of resignation and submission, not sung with reluctance, but with, glad and eager consent! “Hallelujah,” the note of praise! The angels obey, but not sullenly; they sub- mit, but cheerily. God’s love shines upon them as the sunlight falls upon the busy birds in spring, and like the birds, they cannot help but sing.

My gracious Father, I pray that my life may be distinguished by obedience and praise. Let Thy statutes become my songs. Save me from unwilling drudgery. Let me run the way of Thy commandments, and let the joy of the Lord be my strength. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

/Bias 13.

AND some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.

—^Ltjke 8: 7.

The capacity and resources of life are limited. If we distribute them over many things we shall bring forth no fruit. Every additional thing we plant reduces the general strength. The Lord wants us to be specialists, and to grow wheat only. But we try to grow wheat and thorns, and the wheat is robbed and enfeebled. We cannot grow good wheat if we grow thorns.

Heavenly Father, I pray that the field of my life may be filled with good wheat. Save me from surrendering any of my strength to the growth of thorns. Let not the grace of this world, and the pleasures of this life, invade my soul, and choke the seed which has been planted by Thy Spirit. For the Saviour’s sake. Amen.

/Das 14.

STAND therefore, having your loins girt about with truth. — Ephesians 6: 14.

Take the truth and wrap it about your life like a Roman soldier strapped his belt around his loins, binding the armour tight to his body, and preventing it interfering with the freedom of his action. Wear the divine truth like a belt; let it gather up the whole of your life, and bind it into compactness and strength.

Almighty God, let me not be the victim of loose opinions. Let me not stumble along in trailing compromise. Bind my life together in Thy truth. Make me feel like a confident soldier going forth to battle. Let Thy truth be my strength. For Christ’s sake. Amen,

Oia 15. I BEHELD, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands. — Revelation 7: 9.

White robes are holy habits. Palms are the symbols of conquest. They who wash in the Saviour’s blood acquire the spirit of sacrifice, and they sacrifice self. They who wear the white robes also bear the palms.

Most Holy God, I pray that my spirit may be clothed in the white robe of Thy salvation. Let me be washed in the blood of the Lamb. And by Thy grace give me the holy palm. Let self be conquered in the love of others. Thus will I praise Thee with joyful lips. For His sake. Amen.

/IDai? 16.

NOW Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus. — John 11: 5.

He loved three souls of three very different temperaments. True love is always comprehensive and inclusive. Jesus does not want all His loved ones to be of one kind and colour. He does not seek uniformity. He loves us for our own individuality. He will not remove our distinctiveness; He will glorify it.

My Father God, I thank Thee for the wonderful varieties of Thy family. I bless Thee that we can be lit up with the light of life. I pray that Thy love may rest upon me and make my life lovely. Let my love be a witness to others that I am drinking deeply of the love of God. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

niiap 17.

STAND in awe, and sin not; commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord. — Psalm 4: 4, 5.

There is little awe in our religious lives to-day. There is little fruitful fear. We do not see the great white throne. We prefer the sweetness of the Saviour to His holiness. And so we gather together all the gracious promises, and they become hurtful rather than sanctifying.

Most Holy God, let not my spirit be dulled by the riches of Thy grace. Let not Thy promises put my heart to sleep. Let me stand before Thy throne in wakeful awe. Let me apprehend Thy holiness so that I may rejoice in Thy grace. Let me see the great white throne, and then shall I have holy comfort in the presence of the Lamb. For His sake. Amen.

flDag 18.

EXCEPT ye he converted and “become as little children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. — Matthew 18: 3.

The first great feature of childhood is pure affection. Little children love Jesus for the pure luxury of loving Him. Their love is its own reward. The second great characteristic of the child nature is its fine sensitiveness. It finds its symbol in the month of April. It easily breaks into sunshine and it can as easily melt into rain. And the third great characteristic is open mindedness. The child is full of eager questionings. He is ever knocking at closed doors.

0 Lord my God, renew within me the spirit of a little child. Give me the child’s love, the child’s sensitiveness, the child’s expectant wonder. In the spirit of childlikeness may I find the secret treasures of Thy grace. For His sake. Amen.

ilba 19.

BE not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, tut he filled with the Spirit.

—Ephesians 5: 18.

Do not seek the stimulus of life primarily through the senses, but through the heart. The fundamental need of life is not a sensation but an inspiration. Man has a body; he has a soul. It is foolish to try to spur the essential powers of life by the stimulus of the flesh. The stimulus must be very inward, and it must be given by the Holy Ghost.

Holy Father, renew a right spirit within me. Graciously stimulate my life by quickening the central springs. Inspire me with exhilarating vision, and with generous purpose, and with holy joy. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

{ssa 20.

GROW in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

—2 Peter 3: 18.

We have the capacity to receive divine grace, and to receive it more and more. Grace has an inexhaustive wealth of kindness. God giveth grace for grace, and will continue to give it until every tissue and function in body, mind and soul are saturated and sanctified in its redeemed ministry.

0 Lord my God, I come to Thee for grace. I am not worthy of the least of Thy favours. Let Thy wonderful love overflow my necessities and my sins. Lighten my lamp of hope, and lead me in the way everlasting. For the Saviour’s sake. Amen.

/Hbas 21.

MOSES wist not that... Us face shone.

—Exodus 34:29.

Spiritual beauty is loveliest when it is unconsciously possessed. Self-conscious virtue is dull and uncrowned. Humility is spoiled when we are conscious of it. Beneficence loses its charm when we are proud of it. No virtue has its full strength and beauty until its possession is unnoticed by its owner.

My Father God, graciously deliver me from self -consciousness and self-conceit. Lift me into the light where pride is lost in reverence, and where self-glorying bends in holy praise. I pray that I may share the graciousness of Jesus, and that men may see my good works and glorify Thee. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

/IDag 22.

GOD hath not given us a spirit of fear; hut of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

—2 Timothy 1: 7.

The Holy Ghost creates force of character. He fashions life that is neither frightened by the swords of the world, nor lured by its crowns. But the spirit of power is allied with the spirit of love, which saves it from driving into a terrible ditch. And along with these two endowments there is the further gift of a healthy mind, which turns away from all that is impure in revulsion and disgust.

Almighty God, I turn to Thee in humble petition that these gifts may be mine. Deliver me from weakness and timidity and fear. Deliver me from lovelessness. Deliver me from a mind which cannot discriminate between the pure and the impure. Make me gloriously healthy in Christ Jesus. Amen.

/IDas 23.

WHAT man of you Jiaving a hundred sheep, and having lost one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine... and go after that which is lost until he find it. — Luke 15: 4.

And so the Lord is troubled about one. The one sheep is not lost in the flock. “He calleth His sheep by name.” “He loved me and gave Himself for me.” Such is the good news of grace — one soul is of infinite worth in the esteem of the infinite God.

Most Gracious Father, I bless Thee that I too have a place in Thy love. Let me fill it with a consecrated life. Let me answer love by love, and rejoice in my portion with constant devotion. Give me the grace to tell others that they, too, have a place in the Father’s heart. For the Saviour’s sake. Amen.

/IDas 24.

WALK in love.... Walk as children of light.... Look carefully how ye walk. — Ephesians 5: 2, 8, 15.

There is in the Christian’s habits a characteristic manner of going. There is a peculiar carriage and behaviour. He is distinguished by love and light and circumspection. There is a certain disposition of heart, a certain sunny purity of affection, and a certain scrupulous and vigilant exactness. We shall acquire this noble carriage if we hold fellowship with our Lord. “0 for a closer walk with God “1

My Father God, I pray that my daily walk may be full of the grace of Jesus Christ. Grant that I may do common things in an uncommon way. May even small courtesies be as fragrant as wild flowers by the side of the road. Let Thy love dwell in me, making everything lovely. For the Saviour’s sake. Amen.

ifba 25. I WILL praise Thee 0 Lord, with my whole heart; I mil show forth all Thy marvellous works. I will ie glad and rejoice in Thee; I wUl sing praise to Thy name, 0 Thou Most Bigh. — Psalm 9: 1, 2.

That is a note that is too commonly silent in our religious life. Even many of our consecration pledges avoid any reference to the ministry of praise. We have our prayer meetings, and our self-denial weeks, and our days of humiliation, but how rarely we gather together for the supremely exhilarating business of praise. There were ten lepers who possessed sufficient faith to cry for healing; but only one returned to give thanks.

Most Gracious God, create in me a grateful heart. Save me from the spiritual dryness which loses the sense of privilege and grace. Keep me very mindful of Thy mercies. Then shall I sing aloud for joy. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

fSiU’g 26.

CAST thy burden upon the Lord and He shall sustain thee. He never shall suffer the righteous to he moved. — Psalm 55: 22.

We can do this with the burden of
fearfulness. We can do it with the
burden of perplexity. We can do it
with the burden of guilt.

My Father God, help me to lay my burden upon Thee. Save me from the exhaustion which comes from shutting Thee out of my life. Let me not seek to carry a yoke which was made for two. Share my yoke, 0 Lord, and share my burden! For the Saviour’s sake. Amen.

106 “COME YEfAPABT”

iWia 27.

0 MAGNIFY the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. — Psalm 34: 3.

This is a call to social worship. The praise that lifts its voice in solitude is beautiful, but it is far more beautiful when heard in communion with the praise of one’s fellows. The violin gains something from an accompaniment. Each instrument in the orchestra is enriched by the cooperation of the others. Come let us join our cheerful songs with angels round the throne.

My Father God, graciously quicken in me the spirit of thanksgiving. Tune my heart to sing Thy praise. Let me bring my note of adoration to the chorus of those who worship Thee. Let my song mingle with theirs who stand around Thy throne. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

a 28«

WHOSOEVER drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst.

—John 4: 14,

Nothing else can satisfy us but the eternal springs. God has made some things very juicy for His children, but the juicy things will not destroy our thirst. The thirst for the springs will persist and remain, — a vague yearning, a painful disquietude which will haunt us till the very end. All other resources will fail; but in the eternal spring we shall find contentment in spiritual health.

0 Lord my God, let Thy spring rise up within my soul. Refresh my thirst in the waters of life. Let me drink of Thee, the fountain head. Fill my unrests with Thine own gracious peace. FiU my yearnings with Thine own holy joy. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

/IDa 29.

THOU, 0 Lord, art a sMeld for me; my glory, and a lifter up of mine head. ... 7 laid me down and slept; I awaked, for the Lord sustained me. — Psalm 3: 3, 5.

The shield suggests the all-suffteient protection which comes from the companionship of God. He will be a shield against the foe without, — the winter of failure and adversity. He will be a shield against the foe within, — the foul breed of envy, malice, and uncharitableness. Man needs reinforcing against his worst self.

Most Gracious God, throw Thy shield around my life. Let me not trust to my own defences. Let not my circumstances overthrow me. Let not my moods destroy me. Hold me in Thy holy power, and make me more than conqueror. For the Saviour’s sake. Amen.

/Bias 30. BELOVED, I beseech you as sojourners and pilgrims, to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your behaviour seemly among the Gentiles, that wherein they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of salvation.

—1 Peter 2: 11, 12.

The apostle is delineating the features in a character that tells. He is depicting the forceful life. His first note in the forceful life is abstinence from fleshly lusts. Fleshly lust is anything in the life which steams the windows of the spirit. It therefore includes envy, jealousy, ambition, selfishness, and immoderate ambition.

My Father in Heaven, help me to get rid of everything which clouds my vision of Thee. Let me hate everything which dulls the transparency of life. Let me love everything that helps me to love Thee. Grant unto my soul a victorious warfare against the flesh. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

/TOas 31.

LOVE your enemies, and do them good, and lend, never despairing; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be sons of the Most High. — ^LuKE 6: 35.

All these noble issues begin in love. Love is the attitude of wooing. And love is the instrument of knowing. We can have no real knowledge of our enemy if we are destitute of love. And love reflects the disposition of the Lord. Because God loves His enemies we shall find it possible to love ours. We love because He first loved us.

O Lord my God, I pray for Thy most wonderful gift of holy love. Let my love blaze like a sacred fire. Let it be the passionate minister of Thy will. Let it go out in furthest quest seeking all who have gone astray. Let my heart blaze with fire that has been borrowed from Thine altar. For Christ’s sake. Amen.