APRIL, 1946
16S
In the mad rush of today, in its fevered speed, its fevered impatience, and its burning desire for posses sions, there is need for a touch that will calm and cool our minds and spirits. We are too much influenced by the world’s fevers. “The world is too much with us. Late and soon, get ting and spending, we lay waste our powers . . .” Seek for the touch of the Lord’s hand; the “fever” will leave and today we shall walk in calmness, in peace and blessed joy. April 9 “Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy s i n s be forgiven thee” (Matt. 9:2). Why are we so often troubled over the things of our world? The deep-seated hunger of e v e r y human heart is for rest and peace. These are possible only where there is conscious security; where the soul knows that all is well in its relation ship to the Supreme Ruler of the uni verse. And this hunger is satisfied when man believes on the Lord Jesus Christ “in whom we have redemption . . . even the forgiveness of sins." Christian, “be of good cheer” and thy cheerfulness will be a witness to all whom you contact today. April 10 “Now the names of the twelve apos tles are these . . . These twelve Jesus sent forth” (Matt. 10:2,5). The names of the apostles—twelve. The name of all who believe on Jesus Christ—legion. Yet our God who here lists for us these names also lists our names in His record book. “These twelve Jesus . . . commanded . . . say ing, Go.” To all whose names are written in the book of life this same Jesus, Lord and Saviour, says, “Go, work today in my vineyard and water the plants for Me. Water them care fully with love.” AS it was said of Onesiphorus, “he often refreshed me,” may it be said of you. And your name will cause others to remember Jesus Christ, and praise and glory will re sound to His Name. April 11 “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Matt. 11:15). Why do we sometimes fail to hear God speak? Is it possible to have ears, yet not to hear? “If you stood in a street where traffic was abun dant, creating a continuous rumble, it would be difficult to preach and to command attention from the passers- by. The mass of mankind is in that position as to the sound of the Gospel. The noise of trade, the cries of com petition, the whirl of care, the risk of pleasure—all drown the voice of Heav enly love and men hear no sound of it.”—Hallock. We must ask God to shut out other sounds and to unstop our ears that we may hear His voice.
“If you could see the Lord Jesus standing before you, and you heard Him say, ‘Come’, would you say, ‘What does come mean?’ "And if the room were dark, so that you c o u l d only hear and not see, would it make any difference? Would you not t u r n instantly toward the ‘Glorious Voice’ ? Would you not obey, if you believed it to be Himself? The coming hinges on that. The moment you really believe, you come. Fear not, believe only and let yourself come to Him straightway! And I know His answer is, ‘Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out’.”—Frances Ridley Havergal. April 15 "Then Jesus . . . said, I have com passion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to e a t . . . I will not send them away fasting” (Matt. 15:32). Jesus had compassion on the multi tude, not only as a body, but on the individuals comprising it. He saw their needs as persons. They had no food, and He would not send them away unfed. Neither will He send you away unfed. The compassion of Jesua is shown today in the gift of the Word of God, the revelation of Himself to us, and, if you, like Jeremiah of old, can say, “Thy words were found and I did eat them,” if you really feed on the Word of God, you will neither hun ger nor thirst. April 16 “And When his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread” (Matt. 16:5). Have you ever forgotten to t a k e bread? Jesus Himself is the t r u e Bread from Heaven. How shall we eat? It is the old story—only believe on Him as your Saviour. It is not a mere subsistence to which Christ in vites us; it is a feast. He says, “Eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundant ly, O beloved.” How often we have sung, “He hath' filled the hungry with good things” ! An you hungry? Come, eat of His h o l y bread, leaving the husks and ashes of the world, and you shall know what it is to be filled with good things—blessings fresh each day from His hand. April 17 “Then answered Peter . . . Lord, It is good for us to be here . . . While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud” (Matt 17:4, 5; cf. v. 8). . “It is g o o d for us to be here.” Whether the cloud be dark or bright —with the Lord Jesus we can always know it is “good for “us to be here,” in the place of His choosing. God speaks to His own in cloud or sunshine. When we hear a voice, the natural reaction is to look in the direction from whence
April 12 “Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it forth; and it was restored” (Matt. 12:13),., Why go searching and wanting, yearning and seeking, when all the supply one can want is here? Our spiritual hands may be withered and powerless because we are not heeding the call of Love which says to the weary, the sick, the disheartened, “Stretch forth thine hand.” Act now in faith and, as you stretch forth your hand, you will realize that it is em powered, filled, clasped by the never- tiring, never-empty hand of omnipo tent, omniscient, omnipresent Love.
"Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit” (John 12 : 24 ). April 13 “Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it” (Matt. 13:46). “The man here is none other than our L o r d Jesus. He came seeking goodly pearls. He came to seek and to save that which was lost. “The ‘pearl of great price’ is the true Church of God and its v a l u e may speak to us of ‘the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.’ The pearl is one, for it typifies the one Body. The great price was His own precious blood—‘Ye are bought with a price.’ In order to pay the price, He yielded all that He had. He has re deemed us, and now we are His.”— William L. Pettingill. April 14 “He said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus” (Matt 14:29).
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