September

SEEK ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. — Matthew 6: 33.

First things first! Degeneracy begins when we put the first thing in the second place, and the second thing in the first. If we get the queen bee we possess the swarm. If we first of all seek the Lord everything else will take its appointed place in His train.

Heavenly Father, save me from a life of disorder. Teach me Thy secret. May I make everything gather round the great white throne. Let everything be compelled to pay homage at Thy feet. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

September 2.

WHO shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?... Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. — Romans 8: 35, 37.

God turns these swords into ploughshares. He transforms the weapons of destruction into implements of spir- (I

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itual culture. The things that come to harm us He makes to serve us. The boastful tyrant becomes our slave. The things that would separate us from Christ are compelled to be the ministers of union.

0 Lord my Father, I bless Thee that all my circumstances can be my helpmeets in the light of grace. Thou wilt compel the enemy to serve my soul. Help me to believe that I can be more than conqueror in the midst of all my foes. Let me meet eversrthing in quietness and confidence. For the Saviour’s sake. Amen.

September 3.

THE wages of sin is death. — Romans 6: 23.

But that does not only mean a ‘death which is to approach at some remote day. Dying begins immediately. Sin is always deadly. We never sin without something beginning to die. Our spiritual powers are always impaired by the presence of sin. Our most delicate instincts and tuitions die. Our senses grow numb.

0 Lord my God, deliver me from all sin. Save me lest I entertain the presence of spiritual death. Let all my powers be alive and whole. Let Thy righteousness fill my being with health and glory. For the Saviour’s sake. Amen.

September 4.

I AM crucified with Christ. Nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faiih of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me. — Galatians 2: 20.

The life in the flesh can reincarnate the Son of God. By faith I can recover His image and reveal His grace and glory. I can live my witness so that men may read of Christ in the vivid letters of my daily life.

Holy Father, may my life in the flesh be hallowed with Thy presence and glory. Manifest Thyself in me. Reveal Thyself in the spirit and character of my life. Let the heavenly break through the earthly. Let the place at my feet be glorious. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

September 5.

IN nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your request be made known unto God.

—Philippians 4: 6.

As soon as we worry about a thing it becomes our master. Worry can make tyrants of trifles. Worry feeds our antagonists and transforms dwarfs into giants. If worry removed things it would be an attractive road. But it multiplies them, and therefore is a road to be shunned.

My Father in Heaven, deliver me from the spirit of worry. Let me kill it by thanksgiving and praise. Help me to face everything in the spirit of restful confidence. Let me magnify Thy works and so lay my antagonists in the dust. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

September 6.

/ AM the Lord fhy God, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldst go.

—Isaiah 48: 17.

God’s leading is not usually spectacular or sensational. It will probably come to us in very quiet and gentle
ways. It may be given to us through
the workings of our own judgment. It
may come through the counsels of a
friend. It may steal into the mind
through the pages of a book. Or it
may be a gentle inspiration in some
quiet hour of communion.

0 Lord my God, let me recognize Thy leadership. Guide me with Thine eye upon me. Let me not be so coarse as to need a bit and bridle. L^t Thy gentleness make me great. For the Saviour’s sake. Amen.

September 7.

THE Lord’s mercies... are new every morning.

—Lamentations 3: 22, 23.

Every day may carry with it a richer store of memories. To-day may have resources which yesterday lacked. I have had an extra day of fellowship with God, and that sends its precious deposit into the morrow. Then God has new mercies for the new need. Every new circumstance unlocks new grace in the storehouse of divine love.

My Father in Heaven, give me eyes to discern Thy mercies. Nourish my heart in the sense of wonder and surprise. Let me never become dulled to Thy bounty. Let me be so spiritually alert that every new blessing awakes a new song. For the Saviour’s sake. Amen.

September 8.

WEEN ye spread forth your hands, I will hide Mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make Me prayers I will not hear; your hands are full of blood.

—Isaiah 1:15.

Let me not turn away from this heavy word. Let me reverently heed this warning. Our deeds colour our hands. When we bring an offering our Grod looks at the hands more than at the gift. Unclean hands spoil the largest gift. A clean hand sanctifies the smallest offering.

Holy Father, wash me and I shall be clean. Lead me from the defilement of my own trespasses. Cleanse me in the waters of grace. Let me share Thy radiant holiness. Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

September 9.

THE worTc of rigMeousness shall he peace, avd the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. My people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings and in quiet resting places.

—Isaiah 32: 17, 18.

The quiet resting places are founded upon righteousness. There can be no security where there is crookedness. The house that is built without the plumb-line will soon be a heap of confusion. We can only find peace as we build upon God’s holy will.

My Father God, I would seek my peace in Thy righteousness. Bring me into perfect communion with Thee. In perfect fellowship let me find the harmony which is peace. Let me find security in sharing the holiness of the Lord. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

September 10.

TEE Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor. He hath sent me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.

—Luke 4: 18.

This is the programme of the Kingdom of God. This is the meaning of our Saviour. The iron gate is opened in every man’s road and he can walk in the companionship of his deliverer. It is a time of jubilee.

Heavenly Father, make me a willing servant in the glorious cause of Thy Kingdom. Let my heart leap to its appointed mission. When I hear Thy call let it be as when a bride hears the wedding bell. Bid me go with Thee on Thy great crusades. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

September ii.

FINALLY, be ye like minded, compassionate, loving as brethren, tender hearted, humble minded.

—1 Peter 3: 8.

This is the expression of a fine feeling; and if life is to be touched by such exquisite issues it must be a fine material. Fine characteristics imply fine character. You will not get exquisite “COME TB APAET” 179

porcelain out of pudding stone. The
’ exquisiteness of the result must be hidden in the original substance. What
then is our evangel? “He sits as a
refiner.”

Heavenly Father, I pray that Thou wouldst refine my spirit so that I may be filled with grarcious sympathies. Let my heart chords be so sensitive that they will respond to the calls of others. Let me go among my fellow men in Christian pity and redemption. Let me be their helpers in Christ Jesus. Amen.

September 12.

LET every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

—1 COEINTHUNS 7: 24.

Every calling is hallowed, if I can stay therein with God’s fellowship. No business is common and unclean where the Lord may be a partner. I can stay anywhere, in any thing, if the Lord stay with me. “When His presence leaves a thing I must go with Him.

0 Lord my God, sanctify my present labour. Make even the house of merchandise a house ot prayer. Make my commerce a eacred communion. Let my trade relationships be the hallowed channels of Thy grace. For the Saviour’s sake. Amen.

September 13.

TAKE heed therefore how ye hear; for whosoever hath, to him shall he given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he thinketh that he hath.

—^LuKE 8: 18.

One of the great needs of to-day is the grace of sanctified hearing. There is a discriminating way of hearing. There is a listening which encourages the speaker of slander, and there is a closing of the ears which reduces the slanderer to silence. There would be much less evil speaking if there were much less evil listening.

Holy Father, grant me grace to sanctify my ears as well as my tongue. May I know how to listen and how to be deaf. Impart unto me a wise receptiveness so that I may discriminate between the evil and the good. 0 Lord, open Thou my ears, and close them in Thy good pleasure. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

September 14.

GOD... hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may he of God and not of us. — 2 Corinthians 4: 6, 7.

When the vessel is earthen our interest is fixed upon what it contains.

When the picture has a commonplace frame our regard is centered upon the work of the artist. When there is no show or glittering parade about the Lord’s ambassador, we can give all our attention to His message. The modest messenger does not rob the Lord of His glory.

0 Lord my God, let not my conceit dishonour Thee. Let not any self-seeking spoil Thy glory. Let Thy treasure be in an earthen vessel. Let me be willing to be obscure. Let only the Lord be glorified. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

September 15.

BLESSED is fhe man whom Thou chastenest, 0 Lord, and teachest him out of Thy Law.

—Psalm 94:12.

We can be in the school of Christ. Everybody has free access to His privileges. The school is always open, the Master is always there. He knows His pupils, the brilliant and the slow, those who learn easily and those to whom learning is difficult. And His tender mercies are over all His works.

0 Lord my God, I would have a place in Thy school. I would learn the secret of the Lord. I would enter into the treasures of Thy grace. Give me fellowship with Thy holy mind and will. For the Saviour’s sake. Amen.

September 16»

PERILOUS times shall come, for men shall he lovers of their own selves... having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away.

—2 Timothy 3: 1, 2, 5.

A form without its life is a very desolate thing. A shell along the beach from which the life has gone away! A house without a tenant! And such appear our religious forms which are devoid of spiritual life. What must it be to God when we oifer Him dead and empty things?

0 Lord my God, let me not mock Thee with empty forms. Let me not worship Thee with a heart devoid of love and devotion. Let me not offer Thee that which costs me nothing. Let my piety be full and eager, throbbing with sincerity and truth. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

September 17.

LET us not therefore judge one another any more, hut judge this rather, that no man he a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.

—Romans 14: 13.

It is a fearful thing to trip anybody up, and make them fall into sin. It is a fearful thing to add a stumbling-block to our brother’s way. Rather let “OOME YE APAET” 183

it be our aim and ambition to take the stones out of his road, to make the crooked straight, and the rough places plain. Let me be a roadmaker after the pattern of Christ Jesus.

0 Lord my God, grant me Thy grace so that my life may be helpful to my brother. Let me not add to his perplexities and multiply his difficulties. Bather let me make it easier for his feet so that he may run in the heavenly way. For the Saviour’s sake. Amen.

September 18.

AS we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men. — Galatians 6: 10.

If it were laid upon us to do great things, then most of our days would seem to present closed doors. The opportunities for doing great things are very few; the opportunities for doing good things are abounding. Every day is full of open doors. Every hour should lure us into a kindness, an active grace, an intercession, a courtesy which will be like a mountain spring.

Most Gracious God, I thank Thee that my life is full of open doors. I do not ask for great things. I ask for grace to do the good things. Fill me with Thy love that I may do love’s work continually. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

September 19.

FOR I long to see you, that I might impart unto you some spiriiual gift, to the end that ye may ie established. — Romans 1: 11.

We may not be able to light the lamps of other people’s understandings, but we can all have grace and be able to establish it in a spiritual life. Everybody can be the helpmeet of somebody else. We dishonour our Lord when we assume He has given us nothing which we can give away.

Holy Father, make me a vital minister in Thy Kingdom. Let my life be so commandingly healthy that I can enrich and enlarge the lives of others. Let their faith be strengthened by fellowship with my own. For the Saviour’s sake. Amen.

September 20.

THEREFORE we ought to give more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest haply we drift away from them. — Heb. 2: 1.

We can deliberately steer away from holy things, or we can drift away from them. It is amazing how far we can be borne astray on the waters of shifting circumstance. We can neglect prayer for a week, and we are far away from

God. Nothing but the most vigilant
thought will keep us to our course.

My Gracious God, keep me wide awake lest I drift away from Thee. Let me not unconsciously surrender to the alien powers of the world. Let me contend with the opposing stream with all my heart and mind and strength. Let me press on toward the goal. For the Saviour’s sake. Amen.

September 21.

I KNOW fhy works, that thou art neither cold

nor hot. I would thou wert cold or hot. So

then because thou art lukewarm, and neither

cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

—Revelation 3: 15, 16.

Such is the peril of religious neutrality. Such is the danger of being neither one thing nor another. Lukewarm people can accomplish nothing. Lukewarm water can run no engine. Lukewarm prayer has no power of ascension. Lukewarm piety enthuses nothing.

Most Holy Father, save me from this deadly neutrality. Kindle a fire of sacred love on the mean altar of my heart. Fill me with noble enthusiasms. Let my heart glow with passionate devotion. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

September 22.

GO to now, ye that say, To-day or to-morrow we will go into such a city and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain; whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. — James 4: 13, 14.

Nothing is more foolish than to make our plans without humble dependence upon God. We must take our purposes into His presence and consider them in the light of His countenance. Every programme must be laid at His feet, to be taken up again or cancelled at His good pleasure.

Almighty God, let me not play the king in my own life. Let me be as a prince in the royal house and do the King’s bidding. Let my to-morrows be all planned in the light of Thy counsels. Let me move forward along the highway of my Lord. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

Septembet 23.

IF I mil that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou Me. — John 21: 22.

Peter was worrying about another man’s appointments. Our interest in others may become foolish meddlesomeness. Meddlesomeness easily sours into jealousy and envy. Our only safety is to keep our eyes on the Lord and learn what His business is for us.

My Father ia Heaven, I pray that Thou wilt guard my relationships with others. Let me not be peevish, or envious, or soured with iU-will. Make me very gracious and tender, and let it be always my concern to be well pleasing Thee. For the Saviour’s sake. Amen.

September 24,

I AM debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians, both to the wise and to the unwise. So as much as in me is I am ready to preach the Gospel to you that are at Rome also.

—EoMANS 1: 14, 15.

What the apostle had received from the Lord he felt he owed to others. He interpreted his privileges as obligations. In the gifts of grace he found his appointed duties. What he heard in the ear he must proclaim upon the housetops. He owed what he had to those who had it not.

Holy Father, let me not be selfish in my spiritual life. Save me from hoarding Thy treasure in personal enjoyment. Let me recognize my brother ’s rights in my possessions. Let me comfort as I have been comforted. Let me give away my strength ia the service of those who are weak. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

September 25.

TAKE ye away the stone. — John 11: 39.

So the human can be the fellow-labourer of the divine. Human weakness was called upon to do its appointed part in the momentous miracle. There was something even for men to do in the resurrection of the dead. In the feeding of the multitude men had to provide five loaves. In the transformation of water into wine men had to provide the water-pots.

My Father God, let me not fail Thee by negligence or indolence. Save me from the deadly unbelief which regards my part as of no account. Let me surrender and dedicate my powers to Thee. Let me fill up my share in the ministry of Thy Kingdom. For Christ ’s sake. Amen.

September 26.

WREN forty years were expired... the voice of the Lord came unto Moses saying... Now come, I will send thee unto Egypt. — Acts 7: 30, 31, 32, 34.

That was a long wait in preparation for the great mission. When God delays He is not inactive. He is getting ready His instruments. He is ripening our powers, and at the appointed moment we shall arise equal to our task.^ Even Jesus of Nazareth was thirty years in privacy, growing in grace and wisdom, before He began His work.

0 Lord my God, let me not misinterpret my times of waiting as times of waste. Help me to believe that the invisible presences are active in the will of the Lord. Thy seasons are always gracious, maturing Thy children for their appointed work. Help me to rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

Septemtet 27,

TEAT I may know Him and the fellowship of His sufferings. — Philippians 3: 10.

That is the sight which arrests the world. When the world sees a man carrying his cross as Jesus carried His, it stands and looks at him. We must bear our crosses with Christian courage and patience. We must not be weary or faint like those who have no communion with the Lord. We must not sorrow as others who have no hope. We must be seen to be in league with the victorious Lord.

My Father God, let me walk in the fellowship of the Saviour’s sufferings. Let me suffer in His way. Let me bear my troubles in His manner. Let there be a sort of triumph even in my distresses. Let me walk as the child of the King. For the Saviour ’s sake. Amen.

September 28.

I AM the Lord tlty God, which teacheth thee... which leadeth thee by the way thou shouldst go.

—Isaiah 48: 17

“The moment we forget that God meant this life to be a school, the puzzle of life begins.” To be willing to be in that school, and to be docile in the hands of the great Headmaster is the deep secret of progress and understanding.

0 Lord God, let me be a willing pupil in Thy school. Make me very teachable, willing to learn Thy lessons. Let me grow in grace and knowledge. Make me more and more expert in the practice of Thy holy truth. For Christ’s sake. Amen.

September 29.

HE shall sit as a refiner and purifier of stiver.

—Malachi 3: 3.

That is true of every life. God’s fires are very merciful. It is their purpose to burn out all the dross, the waste, everything that mars our value in His holy sight. Our God is a consuming fire, but at the end of the day we shall see pure gold.

0 Lord my God, let Thy merciful fire bum the untrue and the unclean out of my heart. Take not Thy holy fire from me. Burn out my wickedness until there be none. Eefine me until I come forth as pure gold. For the Saviour’s sake. Amen.

September 30.

IF thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give Mm drink. For in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

—Romans 12:20.

Who is there who would not be overcome by that kind of warfare? What enemy would persist in pelting us with bullets if we were showering kindnesses upon him? What foe would retain his hostility in face of thoughtful beneficence? My fire would melt his ice.

O Lord, teach me Thy way. Let me win my triumphs by love. Let me conquer my enemies by kindness. Let the trophies of my life be found in enemies converted into friends. For Christ’s sake. Amen.