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most heart-searching means of draw ing you close to Himself has failed because you have grown bitter and are refusing to receive from it what God is so tenderly seeking to bring forth from it for your life. —James H. McConkey. 7. Faith Can Do It “Have faith in God” (Mk. 11:22). Faith in Jesus Christ and His mes sage can save this present age, and nothing but such faith can save it. Faith in Jesus Christ and in His message can save the United States from the moral, social, and financial degeneration which prevails, and nothing but such faith can do it. Faith in the living God and in the absolute integrity of. His Word and of His promises, out of weakness can make Christian disciples courageous witness-bearers, and nothing else can do it. Faith in Jesus Christ and in His message will revive, regenerate, and renew His church for soul-winning crusades, and nothing but such faith will do it.— The Bible Today. 8. At Eventide “Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin” (Psa. 51:2). Its hours all have fled, dear Lord, I bring the day to Thee. Wilt Thou in love cleanse of its sin And give new strength to me. Forgive its failures, its defeats, Its sorrow, and its loss, When I would prideful lie, dear Lord, Show me Thy shameful cross. May I in gentleness and love Walk patiently my way, And live Thy glory from this hour To everlasting day. —Lucille Anderson Trimmier. 9. To Something Better “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not bje weary; and they shall walk, and not faint” (Isa. 40:31). . Eagles put thorns in their nests and cover them with down. When the young eagle is large enough to fly, the old birds pull the down out and leave the thorns naked. The young bird cannot stay in the nest, but climbs to the edge, and then the old bird pushes it over, and it in stinctively spreads its wings. So our heavenly Father uncovers thorns that we may wing our way to something better.— Alliance Weekly. 10. For His Glory “That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you” (2 Thess. 1:12).
DA I LY Devot ional Read ings
1. A Praying Heart “Pray to thy Father which is in secret” (Matt. 6:6). “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the ‘Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty” (Psa. 91:1). I am convinced that nothing in the Whole Christian religion is so diffi cult and so- rarely attained as a pray ing heart. With it you are irresist ible...........The church- will have to turn over a new lesson on the subject of prayer. Frequent seasons. of se cret prayer are wholly indispensable, to keeping up an' intercourse with God. If you lose your spirit of prayer, you will do nothing, or next to noth ing, though you had the intellectual endowment of an angel. —-CharlesfG. Finney. 2. Talents in Use “Lord, . thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold,1 I have gained beside them five talents more” (Ma'tt. 25:20). There is this to be said, God al ways answers generously to faith. There is no limit to the possibilities of a life which takes up the talents God entrusts to it and envisages by faith their usé in His service. The tragedy is that so many wrap the talents in a napkin and bring them back to God shining but alone. Would that every truly born-again Christian had a vision of his or her life as a worker, a priest, a witness,, an ambassador for Christ. —Newman Watts. 3. More Than Conquerors “To the, one we are the savor of death unto death; and to the other the savor of life unto life” (2 Cor. 2:16). "The savor of life” ? Be it so, be it so. Reaping a harvest wherever we go. Sheaves for the garner—cup to the ■ t * brim— Joying in souls that are brought unto Him. “The savor of death” ? Can it be, can it be? Who is sufficient this fruitage to see? Gleaning a little—vacantly heard— Joying in Jesus—preaching the Word. "Death u n t o death,” or “ life unto life,” We joy that the earth with His knowledge is rife. In discord, in concord, wherever we trod We are a sweet savor of Christ unto God.—Gene Farrell.
4. Beside the Fire “Th,ey saw a fire of coals there” (John' 21:9). As Peter had thrice denied his Lord beside a fire kindled by the enemies of Jesus, divine grace made it pos sible for him to proclaim his love thrice beside a fire kindled by the Lord Himself. Is it not true that when we are warmed by His fire our hearts are moved to pledge our love and loyalty to the Saviour? May I, then, be warmed by the fire of Jesus Christ until m y 1heart can respond, “Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee.”—Walter A. Pegg. 5. Anchored Deep “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Isa. 26:3). “We are troubled on every side, yet nqt distressed” (2 Cor. 4:8). A buoy is fastened securely to a rock at the bottom of the sea. The waves splash around it; it floats se renely in its appointed place. The tide rises and falls; it is still there. . . . The tempest descends, and for a moment it is submerged. But im mediately it rises to the surface and is in its place again, unmoved and unharmed. What a picture of the conquering life! What a power and a privilege for a soul to be able thus to rise lightly above every opponent, every vexation, never to sink into dis contentment, never to be overwhelmed with fear and doubt, always to be on top of the fretful sea of life. ..—Sunday School Chronicle. 6. Lost Sorrow “Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction” (Isa. 48:10). Out of every sorrow God means there should come submission; a drawing nearer to His own great heart of love; a new vision of the shallow ness of worldly streams and the depths of divine ones; a closer devotion to Jesus Christ than ever before known. For the man . . . who allowed afflic tion to embitter his life, deaden his faith, chill his devotion to God, en gross his heart in the selfish nursing of his own grief . . . that affliction was a lost sorrow. A lost, sor row is a silent witness that God’s
“ Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart ” (Jer. 1 5 :1 6 ).
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