April, 1935
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
155
DAI LY “Devotional leadings A M E S S A G E F O R E V E R Y D A Y OF T H E M O N T H
MAY 1 Recognizing the Reality of the Unseen “ Wherefore, seeing we also are com passed about with so great a cloud o f wit nesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Heb. 12:1). A friend, writing o f Bishop Westcott, says this beautiful thing about him: “ In the presence o f the unseen he met all life, and you could not surprise him out o f it. In this atmosphere he worked and breathed. Not only God Himself, but the cloud of witnesses, the communion o f the unseen body of Christ, were more real to him than the things seen.” And the same friend tells a story o f how the Bishop’s chaplain, finding him strug gling late and minutely one night over the draft of a service for a humble country church, reminded him that the congregation would not be critical. “They are accus tomed to anything,” he said. With a gentle, surprised smile, such as Elisha’s might have been in Dothan, the Bishop looked up from his desk and said, “You forget: who are ‘the congregation’ ? W e are only an infinitesimal part o f it.”— Gold Cord. MAY 2 Sin Against God's Sovereignty “ That he may . . . hide pride from man" (Job 33:17). "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (Jas. 4 :6). Pride is the great sin to which man in innocence was tempted by the devil, and which has ever since been a characteristic o f the fallen human heart. It was pride which turned angels into devils. God hates pride because it is a sin that sets itself most against Him. Other sins are against His laws, but pride is against His sover eignty. Are we free from this sin? Can we accept reproof submissively, with a heart unmoved to anger? Can we ac knowledge a mistake without trying to cover it with excuses? Can we bear a slight without resentment? Can we trust our Father without knowing His plans, and have no resentment in our heart at our schooling, knowing that all that is ordained for us is the perfection o f what is just, holy, compassionate, and good? “God nothing does, nor suffers to be done But we should do ourselves, if we could see The end o f all events as well as He.” —J. G regory M antle . MAY 3 Rested and Rooted in Christ “And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone" (Matt. 14:23). “Keep yourselves in the love o f God, looking fo r the mercy o f our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (Jude 21). Christ knew how the holiest service, preaching and healing, can exhaust the
spirit, how too much intercourse with men c^n cloud the fellowship with God, how time, full time, is needed, if the spirit is to rest and root in Him, how no pressure of duty among men can free from the absolute need o f much prayer. —A ndrew M urray . What is more vital to spiritual life than to keep myself in the love o f God, as a plant needs to keep in the sunshine to keep growing? How do we keep ourselves in the love of God? By building up ourselves on our most holy faith through a growing knowledge o f the holy Scriptures, by praying in the Holy Ghost as the divine element in which we live and breathe, and associated with the others, as a necessary part o f this Christian culture, is “looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ un to eternal life,” not back to what He did on the cross only, but forward to the mercy to be revealed when He comes. —A. T. P ierson . MAY 4 Promises for All "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Heb. 13:5). . Words spoken to Jacob belong equally to all believers. Hosea says o f him, “Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him : he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us.” . . . The wonders which God dis played at the Red Sea were wrought for all His people, for we read “there did we re joice in him” (Psa. 66:6). It is true we were not there, and yet the joy of Israel’s victory is ours. The apostle quotes the word of the Lord to Joshua as if it were spoken to any and every child o f God: “He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee,” the fact being that no word o f the Lord ends with the occasion which called it forth, or spends itself in blessing the individual to whom it was first ad dressed. All the promises are to believers who have faith enough to embrace them, and plead them at the throne o f grace. —C harles H addon S purgeon . MAY 5 Christians That Drift "Lest at any time we should let them slip" (Heb. 2:1). What is the thought? Do not drift. These people were appealed to on the basis o f a revelation which they had received from God. The word translated “ought” in verse 1 means “it is necessary.” It is a solemn truth that a Christian can drift; those o f you who know anything about boating will know what that means. Do not drift. That is the danger after you have entered into a measure o f spiritual blessing; losing interest in the familiar. Let us think o f Christ as the anchor of the soul. And since Christ is the rudder also, we have two associated ideas. Christ as the anchor is steadfast, sure. Christ as the rudder is sufficient to guide the boat through the rapids and into port. —W . H. G riffith T homas .
Foundat ions “ I f the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” David exclaimed thousands of years ago. Today as never before _ Modernism and Atheism seem determined to sweep from beneath the feet of the reverent student the very founda tions of his faith. The late Dr. Melvin Grove Kyle, for seven- teen years Archaeological Editor o f the T im e s , once said his great avocation was seeking thefoundations — with pick and spade. His successor on the T im es staff is Dr. James Leon Kelso, Professor o f Semitics and Biblical Archaeology in Pittsburgh-Xenia Theological Seminary. For seven years Dr. Kyle’s colleague in Xenia^Seminary, for several seasons a member of his Palestinian excavations staff, and proficient in Hebrew, Dr. Kelso is fast becoming an authority on witness-bearing antiquities in the H oly Land. His rich articles in support o f “ The Sure Foundation” are among the cheering features o f the T im es . In addition, Dr. Trumbull’s illuminating weekly editorials, his “ Notes on Open Letters,” ana discerning reviews o f new books, continue to delight thousands of T im e s readers. President Robert G. McQuilkin o f Columbia Bible College writes his clear, complete lesson digests. Mother Ruth answers “ Girls’ Pressing Problems o f Today.” And challenging articjps, written by well-known leaders in Christian life and thought, are constantly appearing. The T im e s is the one complete and indis pensable lesson help. You need it, and owe it to yourself and your work to subscribe. Check the square below which interests you, then mail us this advertisement with your name and address. You need not enclose the money—we will send you a bill. Will you do it now? □ Yearly, $2.25— in clubs o f five or more, $1.75. □ 24 weeks, $1. □ Ten weeks Get Acquainted Offer, 25c cash with order. Q Sample copies free.
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PiÈftàndMine W m g s m GLORIA IN EXCELSIS, a bymnal forpresent day Sun day School activity. MR. HARVEY T. BOWMAN, Supt. of St. Paul's Evangelical School, Lebanon, Pa., writes, “ Gloria in Excelsis is like a diamond mine. Wc keep digging and find diamonds more precious than the ones before, in other words, it is a real song book. No song becomes tiresome/' The songs are high grade, but no more difficult to sing than those in ordinary books. They have animation without frivolity. $30.00, $40.00, $45.00 the hun dred, according to binding. Easy terms of payment. Sendfo r exam ination copy ( returnable ). HALL-MACK CO., 2047 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Penna.
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