THE K I N G ' S BU S INE S S
284
7. Today, Not Tomorrow “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself” (Matt 6:34). Let me not put off till tomorrow the happiness Gbd means for today , . « I will not hoard my life for a tomor row . . . My best preparation for to morrow shall be today. Lord, grant me ambition for' today, strength for the tasks next to my hand, love for the dear ones that touch my present life, joy for immediate pleasures, sympathies for sorrows I now see. Lord, grant me promptness in living. Do with me what'Thou wilt—today. —Amos, R. Wells. ( 8. The God of Victory “For whatsoever is born of God over- cometh the world: and this is the Vic tory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4). Thou bearest up the pillars of the earth, Though trusted things dissolve and kingdoms shake, Storms of the darkness—they are but a breath. The morning comes; awake, my soul! Awake. O Lord our God, who can annul Thy Word, That Word which all that was and is obeys? When Thou dost gird on Thee Thine awful sword, The wrath of man shall issue in Thy praise.—Amy Carmichael. 9, Endued for Service “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you” (Acts 1:8). • When Christ said, “ Ye shall be my Witnesses,” He conferred upon us a great honor. But in addition, this commission brings a responsibility, both joyous and grave. Are we meet ing His expectations of us as a wit ness? Are we witnessing everywhere, or do the enemies of Christ confuse us? . . . If we are to see things a c complished, it will be by prayers, life, work, and testimony of fervent wit nesses who have> been endued with power from on high. —Gospel Banner. 10. The Sufficiency of Christ “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wis dom, and strength,* and honor, and glory, and blessing” (Rev. 5:12). In His life Christ is our example, showing us how to live; in His death He is a sacrifice, satisfying our sins; in His resurrection, a conqueror; in His ascension, a king; in His inter cession, a high priest. —Martin Luther.
Daily Devotional Readings
loveth not * . . abideth in death.” The sparkle of intellectual and emo tional life may fascinate and enter tain, but if divine love has leaked out, we are dead while we live. Have you lost your first love? —The Sunday School Worker. 5. Whom God Will Honor “Give unto the Lord the glory due unto hiS name” (1 Chron. 16:29). God will withhold nothing from that man who :'s determined to live to His glory alone . . . At the cross, hu man pride withers like •the cursed fig tree, from the root up. There will be a period of agonized struggle when life-loving old Adam is led_ out to die; but if the Christian will have the cour age to go through with it, the whole quality of his life will be changed. God has „said, ‘Them that honor me I will honor.” He can honor us only when He knows His glory is safe in our hands.—A. W. Tozer. 6. Prayer That Works t “Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch” (Neh. 4':9). The shirking of the mart who prays, and the praying of the man who shirks are equally an abomination unto the Lord. George Muller, when asked how much time he spent in prayer, replied: “Hours every day. But I live in the spirit of prayer. I pray as I walk, when I lie down, and when I rise. When once I am persuaded a thing is right, I go on praying for it until it comes. The answers are al ways coming.”—Selected.
1. Make It Yours “O how I love thy law! it is my med itation all the day” (Psa. 119:97). If a cluster of heavenly fruit hangs within reach, gather it. If a promise lies upon the page as a blank check, cash it. If a prayer is recorded, ap propriate it. If an example of holiness gleams before you, ask God to do as much' for you. If a truth is revealed in all. its splendor, entreat that its brilliance may ever irradiate the hemi sphere of your life. So shall you come to say . with the Psalmist, “O how I love thy law! it is my meditation all the day.”—F. B. Meyer.; 2. A Vital Question "Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Sav iour . . . And we are his witnesses of these things” (Acts 5:31, 32). . Second-hand faith neyer can save anyone. The Lord did not say only, “Whom think 'ye that I am?” But of His disciples He asked: "Whom say' ye that I am?” That is: What is the testimony you are ready to bear about Me to the world? , . . What iS your testimony of Jesus? What do you say about Him? Nothing? . . . What does your life say about Him? Does its peace and joy tell your friends and comrades that you have something they have not? It should. —Signs of Our Times. 3. Preparation for the Conflict “Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh” (Ex. 9:13). Paul tells us that the warfare of the children of God is not against human beings but against “powers” (Eph. 6:12) . .;. These "powers of darkness,” demons of the spiritual underworld, attack the Children of God individu ally and collectively. We may find God’s' way out by “ rising early in the morning” and taking our stand, by virtue of the cross, against these de mon powers. This may be at least one reason that our blessed Lord Jesus chose those early hours, “rising a great while before day,” to pray . . . We shall do well to follow His example. —Pameii. 4. Love Is the Test > •“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). According to Tertullian, the. con' verted son of a Roman centurion, a common saying of his day was, “See how these Christians love' one an other!” . . . This test can be passed by the poprest, most uncultured fol lower of the lowly Christ. “He that
Does your subscription to T H E K ING 'S BUSINESS expire soon? Why not reneW NOW? For latest information regarding prices, see page 257.
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker