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ing for suffering th a t we could not en dure. This may explain in part that occasional lament, “O the misery of an swered prayer.” ' It is better to leave Ourselves in the hands of God and say I am willing To receive what Thou givest, To lack what Thou withholdest, To relinquish what Thou takest, To suffer what Thou inflictest, To be what Thou requirest, To do what Thou commandest. MONDAY, Jan. 24. John 18:1-17. The Uttermost Love. There is no more pathetic and appeal ing picture in the Gospel story than th a t of the Lord and Master washing His disciples’ feet. “He took upon Him the form of a servant.” He actually did a servant’s work. “Having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the uttermost.” (Mar gin). “ I have loved thee with an ever lasting love.” Jer. 31:3. It was self- forgetful love. Sorrow is always self- absorbed. Jesus’ cup of sorrow was full. There never was grief like His. His soul was troubled even unto death. Yet it is not the disciples who cheer and comfort Him. It is He who cheers and comforts them. It was condescend ing love. When they had gathered in the upper room for the last supper, it was during supper th a t Jesus laid aside His garments and girded Himself with a servant’s towel. The time for washing feet is before supper. Perhaps it had been the custom for the disciples to do this humble service in turn for one an other. This. time they were too proud or stubborn to attend to it and thus the Master showed th a t in His kingdom the humblest is the highest and the servant of all is the greatest of all. TUESDAY, Jan. 25. John 5:17-31. A. God Who Works. God is not inert and passive. He is everywhere present and ceaselessly ac tive. He is not an absentee landlord of the world. He has been conceived of as having made the world and then re tiring into the depths of space, allowing it to take care of itself. We must never forget the transcendence of God but we must balance that by His residence and immanence. He is not 'only over all, He is in all. He is not a spectator only, He is an actor. No one can read history without being convinced th a t there is a -Divine and mighty Worker in the field although invisible. It saves us from
such use of our earthly possessions as when they fall as they surely will, we shall he the richer and not the poorer for having been entrusted with them. This is making friends by means of the mammon of unrighteousness. FRIDAY, Jan. 21. Gen. 28:12-22. The Duty of Tithing. There are two laws of God th a t are as old as the race itself. He asks one- seventh of a man’s time and one-tenth of his income. These laws were given for man’s benefit. They were reaffirmed in the Mosaic code, endorsed by Christ and His apostles and observed for cen turies ^n the Christian church. Tithing brings God into direct relationship with every-day life. By its practice, we be come conscious not only of responsibil ity to, God, but of partnership with Him. The pleasure of setting apart one-tenth to God is only equalled by the joy of making sacrificial thank-offerings as op portunity and need afford. It is p u t-, ting God first instead of self. I t is obedience to Christ’s command, “Seek first the kingdom of God.” The tithe is a debt and we should make God our preferred creditor. SATURDAY, Jan. 22. Malachi 8:7-18. Being Ju st and Generous With God. Have we robbed God in the realm of thought? In the hostelry of the mind, among the many transient guests and permanent dwellers, have we always made room for the Lord Jesus? Have we deprived God of His ju st dues in the domain of speech? Have we re mained silent when His power was ques tioned, His dealings criticised! His ver acity,denied? Have we robbed Him of service by standing idle in the harvest fields while the ripened grain is bending with invitation to the reaper? Have we deprived Him of heart-felt gratitude for His sovereign grace, have we refused Him filial obedience to His laws, have we robbed Him of adoring love for His infinite perfection? All this we have done and more. May God have mercy upon us miserable sinners and inclhn our hearts to keep His law! , SUNDAY, Jan. 23. Matt. 20:17-28. Promotion in the Kingdom. How little the sons of Zebedee real ized what they were asking for! How far they were from appreciating the sig nificance of the cup and the baptism, when they thoughtlessly answered “We are able.” When we pray for prefer ment in the kingdom, we may be ask
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