T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
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Daily Devotional Readings
Our first question should be, not, How may I enjoy God? but, How may I glorify Him? “A single eye for His glory” means that even our com fort and joy in religious exercises shall be subordinated, and (if need were) postponed, to the doing of His will. While, on the one hand, there is no moré certain means of enjoying Him than that of humbly seeking to walk in the ways of His commandments, on the other hand, there is nothing more evanescent in its nature than a mere emotion, even though it be that of joy in God, unless it be turned into a spring of action for God. —Alexander Maclaren. A ll Sufficiency “ God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (2 Cor. 9:8). Thou art enough, my Master, Through sleepless nights and days; Had I no pain, how measure then The worth of Him I praise? More than enough for all my need, In Thee I am complete. Thou art my rest. I lowly bow In worship at Thy feet. Let us look away from our immedi ate surroundings “ unto Jesus, the au thor and perfecter of our faith.” God is able”—able for anything. Ponder this, if indeed you can conceive of it: We, having all sufficiency in all things— does it say occasionally? No, always! Thus equipped, we may abound tp every good work. —Ethel M. Clarkson. Sins of Omission “ To him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin” (Jas. 4:17). We count it but a light thing to fail to do the good we know. The omissions that weigh most with *us are omis sions regarding evil deeds. .We do not lie, cheat, steal, kill. That is fine. But do we love God with all our heart, and mind, and soul? That is the first and greatest commandment, the most im portant one of all.—Upward. 10.. God's Answers “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought” (Rofn. 8 : 26 ). Instead of worldly wealth, He sent a friend; Instead of easy peace, He taught me prayer; Instead of vision of the journey’s end, He veiled In mercy all tomorrow’s care 8. 9.
tage of watchfulness to the soul that practices it is its deliverance from fear. To be forewarned is t.o be prepared for the pressure when it comes, ready to meet it with resistance. . . . The sup port of watchfulness is the promised aid' of the Holy Ghost. . . . He pre serves the vigilant mind until its watch is over, and the safety of heaven is its recompense. —John MacBeath. Perfection “ It does not yet .appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him” (1 John 3:2). Finally, when Christ comes for His own and the saints are fully redeemed, being glorified, then all God’s people w ill Lie eternally perfect, being con formed to the very image of the Son of God Himself. . . . We shall then enjoy eternal life in all its blessed reality, and be free from all aches and pains and weaknesses and weari ness. Eternal youth shall then be our everlasting heritage, and glorious per fection our lasting possession. In that wonderful day all that now is in part only shall be done away, and we shall Pray for the impossible. Somewhere we heard this strange message, and with all its audacious boldness, it rings true to the highest possibilities of God’s Word. It is easier for God to do a difficult thing than an easy one. The very structure of His infinite na ture is such that He lives in the realm of the supernatural, the omnipotent, and the infinite. When we ask Him for some easy and trifling thing, there is always danger of our mingling with our faith a certain amount of human reasoning, and looking quite as much to second causes as to God. But when we come out into the clear light and the high altitude of the impossible, then there is no place for anything but God, and He is untrammelled by our human reasonings and limiting unbeliefs.—A. B. Simpson. For His Glory “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished thè work thou gavest me to do” (John 17:4). 5. know even as we are known. O Lord, haste that glad day! —Grace and Truth. 6. Omnipotence “ Is anything "too hard for the Lord?” (Gen. 18:14). 7. -
1. A Reason for Praise “His compassions fa il not. They are new every morning” (Lam. 3:22, 23). We never have reason for grumbling. That is opposition to God and to His will. That is lack of faith in Him, and lack of love to Him . . . -We have so many encouragements in His love, and “a ll spiritual blessings in heav enly places in Christ.” Verily, He crowneth us with loving kindness and tender mercies, and they are new every morning. What a thankful peo ple we should be! —Thoughts from the Word of God. For Our Good “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time” (1 P et 5:6^. It may be that God has allowed af fliction in our life—suffering, bereave ment, or loss. What is our reaction? Do we murmur and complain, grow resentful and bitter? This but ag gravates our lot and causes the wound to rankle and the pain to increase. Let us accept it as sent for our good, and though the smart may remain, there w ill be a healing influence at work. —W. M. Robertson. 3. Satisfied “I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness” .(Psa. 17:15). Not with my life-work, finished, past, Shall I be “satisfied” at last— Not with the gifts I brought my Lord, Nor with my knowledge of His Word; Not with the witness these lips gave Unto the One who died to save; Not with my service, nor my love, Shall I be “satisfied” above. Faulty and weak is my poor “ best,” Needing cleansing with all the rest. Only from Christ comes grace and power, Sure “ sufficiency” every hour, He is my Glory and my Song— He, who has led me all along; And, in the Light no cloud can dim, I shall be “ satisfied” with Him. —Florence L. Bond. 4. Watchfulness “ And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch” (Mk. 13:37). Jesus knew the human tendency to casualness and slackness, and He en couraged watchfulness as a means of safety. The motive to watchfulness lies in the uncertainty that attaches to all human things; . , . His people must be content to live under the dis cipline of the unexpected. The advan 2.
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