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horted' >to' prepare for death but always to be ready for the coming of the Lord. Luke 12:35-40. This experience is greatly to be preferred to death and its subsequent resurrection. Perhaps the precedence of the resurrected saints be fore the raptured ones in 1 Thess. 4:15, 16 may be in the nature of compensa tion, but the advent program seems to indicate that we shall meet them before we meet the descending Lord. MONDAY, February 6. Eph. 3:14-21. The Pathway of Power. With sublime faith Elisha left the place of menial service, 2 Kings 3:11, and claimed the place and portion of the firstborn. 2 Kings 2:9; Deut. 21: 17. The path that he travelled with Elijah may be called the pathway of power. The various stations, Gilgal, Bethel, Jericho, and Jordan with the historical associations of each one, may be transferred to the believer’s experi ence. Gilgal, Josh. 5:9, conversion through Christ; Bethel, Gen. 28:16, 17, communion with Christ, Jericho, Josh. 6:2, conquest for Christ; and Jordan, 2 Kings 2:6-8, consecration in Christ. To receive fulness of power necessitates identification with Christ in death, burial and resurrection. The evidence that Elisha’s request was granted is seen in the fact that while Elijah wrought eight miracles, Elisha perform ed sixteen. TUESDAY, February 7. 2 Kings 4:1-7. The Pot of Oil. Oil is one of the Scriptural symbols of the Holy Spirit, Acts 10:38,' Luke 4:18. Elisha finds a widow with the creditor at the doors. She has nothing but a pot of oil. God’s method is to take what is and build out of it what shall be. The Holy Spirit is in the house. The woman has that which will make her rich before God. The oil is unlimited, 2 Cor. 9:8. Vessels, must be brought, all vessels remain empty if outside. The giving of God is only measured by our capacity for receiving. God will not waste His oil. He stops pouring when we stop bringing vessels. He keeps pouring until the vessel is full, 2 Cor. 6:12; Eph. 5:18. A vacuum always is pressed upon by the surround ing air. The incoming of the Holy Spirit is according to the emptiness, size and number of our vessels.
WEDNESDAY, February 8. 2 Kings 4:8-17. The Prophet’s Chamber. There was a time when a Christian home was not considered complete with out a prophet’s chamber. There have been localities where the entertainment of a preacher at a hotel would be a re flection on the hospitality of the com munity. Many a boy has been brought into the Gospel ministry through the influence of a transient guest in his father’s house. Many lives have been transformed, many household blessings have been received through the inter cession and personal work of godly men and women who have occupied the prophet’s chamber for a greater or less period of time. Owing to the exigen cies of modern civilization, old fashion ed, whole-hearted Christian hospitality may be reckoned among the lost arts. By exercising it in the past, some have even entertained angels unawares. THURSDAY, February 9. 2 Kings 4: 18-30. Help in Trouble. The Shunammite knew where to go in time of trouble. There are those who have no use for the church when all goes well but when sorrow comes, they are glad to seek its consolation?. “ Eyes that the preacher could not school By wayside graves are raised; And lips cry ‘God be pitiful’ That ne’er said ‘God be praised.’ ’’ The heart instinctively turns to God in such an hour. Human sympathy is sweet and it is a gracious privilege to share our burdens with one another but God can do what no other one can do and so we go to Him for help. “ God is our refuge and strength, a very pres ent help in trouble.” It is worth while to have the sorrow to know the power and sweetness of Divine consolation. Earth has no sorrow that heaven can not heal. FRIDAY, February 10. 2 Kings 4:31- 37. The Personal Touch. There is many a sermon, learned, polished and eloquent, that is as inef fective as the staff of Gehazi. Chris tian work can not be done by proxy. If it is perfunctory and professional, it is useless. It requires not only person al contact but the forth-putting of con-
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