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7. Let God Guard “Wherefore let him that, thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12). If Moses, thé meekest man, sinned for lack of meekness; if David, one of the purest men, sinned for lack of purity; if Peter, the boldest of the apostles, sinned for lack of bold ness; and if Abraham, the father of the faithful, £$' ned for lack of faith fulness; is"It not wise to le.t God stand guard even at our strongest point of character?—A. C. Dixon. 8. Wise Preparation “Fast ye for me . . . I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king” (Esth. 4:16). We do well to learn a lesson in preparation. Esther did not rush into the presence of the king with her petition. She first called the Jews of the city and her own servants to a three days’ fast, which also meant three days of prayer. Some people might have dashed right into the king’s presence — and would h a v e been dashed into eternity without ac complishing anything. The old prov erb is still apropos, “Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.” Have we really learned to wait upon God and pray through before venturing? • —Clifford H. Erickson. 9. Repaid Regularity “Yet the inward man is renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 4:16). The life of the body. depends on separate and successive acts, whether of breathing or eating; and so it is with the soul. These times of prayer are the storage, the reservoir of daily power and progress. ¡Let us, then, begin at once . . . The habit will come to be a delight. It will prove as strange and impossible to omit it as our regular meals. God’s pres ence will become more and. more a delight; God’s power will more and more be felt; God’s blessing will be come more and more realized in all our influence and service. —W. H. Griffith Thomas. 10. Growth in Grace “Grow in grace and in the knowl edge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18). A burden which often sorely dis tresses the Christian is the tardiness and the intermittent character of his growth in grace. This also we may lay upon Him: “Holiness by faith in Jesus, Not by effort ,of thine own— Sin’s dominion crushed and broken By the power of grace alone.” We may safely entrust to the Sav iour our aspirations and hopes, for
14. Strengthening Rest “Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the Old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls” (Jer. 6:16). As surely as the earthly shepherd conducts his flock to a pleasant en vironment, so the heavenly Shepherd more graciously provides respite from a wearisome lot, and chances for the recuperation of His sheep; aye, He does vastly better, for He grants unto them rest of the very best, a rest which is the soul and secret of every other kind of rest. What is it that spoils life . . . Is it not sin? And God gives rest from this. When we are in His hands He grants us rest from the guilt of sin, rest from the agony of sin, rest from the dominion of sin, rest from the blasting power of sin.—Joseph Pearce. 15. Our Hope “Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast” (Heb. 6:19). It is no vain platitude when Chris tians speak of “the Lord Jesus Christ who is our hope.” What He has promised and what He Himself will perform is a Consolation to the be reaved, a source of comfort to the afflicted, and a strength to the dis tressed and persecuted ones. This glorious hope gives renewed courage to the fainthearted; it inspires every true believer to holiness of life and abandoned devotion to Christ’s serv ice. It makes our sufferings light, our labors sweet . . . Although the present hour is dread and dark, we are assured of a glorious dawn. —T. Darlington. 16. For His Use “And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing” (Mk. 12:42). God delights in using whatever and whoever is entrusted to Him in real love and faith. Without these, gold, silver, and jewels have no value to Him . . . The two mites of the widow, given with real sacrifice and devotion, are worth more in God’s sight than millions given to be seen of men or amassed in sinful traffic. In ways past tracing out, the all-wise One is ready to use whatever the poorest and weakest of us may turn over to Him, and with them He will accomplish infinite results. God can use any thing to accomplish His purposes. —Wheeler Boggess. 17. A Strength Not Our Own “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength” (Isa. 40:31). The margin reads, “They shall change their strength” ; that is, they
NOTE: Because government re strictions on paper make impossible the enlargement of THE KING'S BUSINESS, even when a particular ly crowded issue, like this one, must be printed, it > is necessary to limit the departments to smaller space. Hence only eighteen Devotional Readings are offered this month. He of God is made unto us sanctifi cation. We may ease ourselves of the strain by laying the burden upon Him.—David M. McIntyre. II. In the Darkness “He knoweth what is in the dark ness” (Dan. 2:22). How we did wish that we, tdb, could know what is in the darkness! But would it be well? Might it not inca pacitate us in the present? But how glad we are to know that our Guide knows, what is in the darkness. In the world’s black-out we need our Guide. Our blessed hope, the return of Jesus Christ, is yet future. It is the dawn that shall come after the darkness has passed.—Upward. 12. God Iftiows Best “ Known unto God are ail his works from the beginning of the world” (Acts 15:18). God knows best what is best for me. Why should I worry, or anxious be, Trying to fathom the course I take, Grasping at bubbles that fade and break? • One step is all I have need, to see. God knows best what is best for me. God knows best what is best for me All through time and eternity. In my Father’s house is goodly store Of all I can ever need—and more. With Him I rest, for I know that He Always gives what is best for me. • —Marian N. Clark. 13. Royal Humility “Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an ass’s colt” (John 12:15). The royalty of Christ was not de pendent upon any human coronation. There were occasions when the people wanted to crown Him, but He refused recognition on the terms they intend ed. This time He asserted His royal ty; He came to Jerusalem as it was known the Messiah would come, not on a war horse riding to battle, forc ing His sovereignty by might of arms, but upon an ass, the beast of field labor and burden bearing; His service is the sign of His royalty.’ —John MacBeath.
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