287
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
T h e
June 1932
burdens and little troubles. W e cannot be much with Christ, and not long to speak for Him. W e cannot take a message from Him, and tell Him how it was received, and not long to take another. W e cannot work in any way for Him, and tell Him about it, without a far greater desire coming over us to work better still tomorrow. Often and often—as these bright beings folded their wings and stood—let us lay every thing aside, that we also may he’ar the voice o f Jesus.— S elected . JUNE 19 L iberty in C hrist "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (2 Cor. 3:17). The liberty here referred to is a freedom o f the highest kind, a freedom that belongs to the central part of our being. It is a spiritual liberty. And yet it is a freedom that affects every department of our earth ly existence. It enters into the experience o f everyday life; it influences every power and faculty o f our nature, and covers the whole of our existence. It is a liberty that is inseparable from the Holy Spirit Him self. It is not something He gives; not something that can be known and realized apart from Himself. It is “where the Spirit o f the Lord is, there is liberty”— that is, where He dwells and has undis puted sway; where He reigns in the heart; where His personality is recognized and His sovereignty is acknowledged— there, there is liberty. All that we need for time or eternity, Christ has obtained for us. All that pertains to life and godliness, the di vine power hath already bestowed upon us in Christ. But it is the Spirit that re veals these things and communicates them unto us. It is He who leads us into these blessings; so that all we have in Christ in the way o f provision becomes practically ours in the way o f experience, by the power o f the Holy Ghost. He does this : By the light that He sheds into the mind; By the purity that He brings into the heart; and By the power that He communicates to the will. —E van H. H opkins . JUNE 20 Y ielded F or S ervice “ The eyes o f the Lord run to and fro . . . to shew himself strong in the behalf o f them whose heart is perfect toward him” (2 Chron. 16:9). In worldly matters, we know how im portant it is that work should be done with the whole heart. In the spiritual region, this rule still holds good inexorably. God has given the commandment: “ Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy might.” It is amazing that earnest Christians, who attend to their daily work with all their hearts, are so content to take things easy in the service o f God. They do not realize that, if any where, they should give themselves to God’s service with all the power o f their will. In the words o f our text, we get an insight into the absolute necessity of seek ing God with a perfect heart. “ The eyes o f the Lord run to and fro through the whole earth to show himself strong in be half o f them whose heart is perfect to ward him.” What an encouragement this should be to us to wait humbly upon God with an upright heart; we may be assured that His eye will be upon us, and He will show forth His mighty power in us and in
CDa lly CD evo iion a l (CDead iings A M E S S A G E F O R E V E R Y D A Y O F T H E M O N T H
The apostles, like their Master, were always very ready at quotations. As in spired men, they could have always used fresh words, yet they preferred (and here in they are an example to us) to quote old words upon which the seal o f divine au thority has been set aforetime: “ He hath said.” Let us do the same, for, though original thoughts may have the charm of novelty, yet the ancient words of God have the ring, and the weight, and the value of old and precious coins, and they will never be found wanting in the day when we re quire to use them. “ He hath said” not only chases away doubts and fears, but it also yields nourishment to all our graces. When the apostle would make us content ed, he says, “ Be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said” ; and when he would make us bold and courageous, he puts it thus forcibly, “ He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” “ He hath said” is refreshing food for every grace, and a decisive death-blow for every sin. Here you have nourishment for that which is good, and poison for that which is evil. Search, then, the Scriptures, for so shall you grow healthy, strong, and vig orous in the divine life.— C. H. S purgeon . JUNE 18 W hen the D ivine V oice is H eard “ There was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings” (Ezek. 1: 25). It i^as an attitude o f listening, o f quiet waiting, of rest from busy labor; and then the voice from above was heard. _ Is not this the attitude that the Lord desires for His children ? Unless we get our own por tion straight from Him, that which we give forth to others will lose some o f the freshness, some o f the strength, that it should have. Unless we have quiet inter views alone with the Lord, our own per sonal interviews with others will be lack ing. Unless we take time to look at what He is, to gaze at His face, “marred more than any man,” we shall lose the gladness and strength of our spirit, we shall forget what He was and is, and faint under little A Missionary’ s Equipment A life yielded to God and controlled by His Spirit. A restful trust in God for the sup ply of all needs. A sympathetic spirit and a willing ness to take a lowly place. Tact in dealing with men and adapt ability toward circumstances. Zeal in service and steadfastness in discouragement. Love for communion with God and for the study o f His Word. Some experience and blessing in the Lord’s work at home. A healthy body and a vigorous mind.—H udson T aylor .
JUNE 15 T he A nswered P rayers “ We know not what we should pray for as we ought” (Rom. 8 :26). I prayed for strength, and then I lost awhile All sense o f nearness, human and di vine ; The love I leaned on failed and pierced my heart, The hands I clung to loosed themselves from mine; But while I swayed, weak, trembling, and alone, The everlasting arms upheld my own. I prayed for peace, and dreamed of restful ease, A slumber drugged from pain, a hushed repose; ■> . V v. ■; -r-'Y' Above my head the skies were black with storm, And fiercer grew the onslaught o f my foes; ' But while the battle raged, and wild winds bleiy, I heard His voice and perfect peace I knew. I thank Thee, Lord, Thou wert too wise to heed My feeble prayers, and answer as I sought, Since these rich gifts Thy bounty has be stowed Have brought me more than all I asked or thought; Giver of good, so answer each request With Thine own giving, better than my best. —A nnie J ohnson F lint . “ Yet the Lord will command his loving kindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me" (Psa. 42:8). Let us not forget what the sorrow has done for us while it lasted; and what the night has been, though dark and sad. It has been a night o f grief, yet a night of blessing; a night in which there may have been many things which we could wish forgotten, yet many more which we should wish to be remembered forever. Often, during its gloom, we called it “wearisome,” and said, “When shall I arise, and the night be gone” (Job 7 :4 )? Yet how much was there to reconcile us to it ; nay, to fill us with praise because o f it! It was then that the Lord drew near, and the world was displaced, and self was smitten, and our will conquered, and faith grew apace, and hope became brighter and more eager, and the things that are unseen were felt to be the real and the true: Jeru salem that is above was seen by us as our proper home.—H oratius B onar . . JUNE 17 W ords that I nspire “He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” ( Heb. 13:5). JUNE 16 T he M inistry of N ight
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