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TH E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
when many doubt the loving-kind nesses of God. Some have passed through such crushing experiences during the war that they find it hard to believe that ‘ God is love.” Yet there are many who have suffered the loss of all 1'lings, except their faith—and the hr rdness of their lot has served only tc reveal the strength and beau!;/ of th: Ir trust in God. To most of i.s, however tried, the evi dence of God’s goodness is so abun dant that we cannot doubt His love and care. Remembrance of His Mercy •When we awake, let us call to re membrance His great mercy in saving our souls. We must never lose the wonder of our salvation or forget the day when God, for Christ’s sake, par doned our sins. “It is profitable,” says John Bunyan, "for Christians to be often calling to mind the very be ginnings of grace with their souls . . . Have you forgotten the closet, the milk-house, the stable, the barn, and the li&e, where God did visit your souls?” It is an amazing thing that God has done for our souls in deliver ing us from eternal death, in break ing the fetters of sin from which we had tried in vain to free ourselves. A Methodist minister noticed when walking home with one of his mem bers, that on reaching a certain point, the man would raise his hat. He thought it strange, for he never saw any lady on either side of the road to whom he was paying respect. One day the man said, “Pastor, perhaps you wonder why I raise my hat on reaching this point. I raise it to God who gave me power to keep outside that public house on the other side of the road. Once I was such a slave to drink I could not pass it by, but now, thanks be to God, I have gained the*victory, for it no longer has any attraction for me.” Saintly Samuel Rutherford said: “When I look at my sinfulness, my salvation is to me my Saviour’s great est miracle. He has done nothing in heaven or on earth like my saK vation.” We cannot do better than begin the day by praising God for the gift of pardon, of power, of eternal life, and for the grace which enables us to keep our feet in the road which leads to heaven. Each returning day it is good to recall God’s wonderful forbearance and patience. In spite of all the follies and failures of yesterday, His love has spared us to see the light of another day; another opportunity is given to prove our love and devotion to Him. He who knows well his own heart is astounded at God’s long- suffering. Truly, “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not” (Lam. 3:22). The love of God is strong, tender, patient, and enduring.
Ending the Day with Gratitude At the close of the day, xhe theme of our praise should be the divine faithfulness. During each passing day we have many proofs of God’s fidelity to us. We often prove unfaithful to Him, but this failure does not inr fluence His attitude to us. Though we prove faithless, “he abideth faithful” ' (2 Tim. 2:13). The Psalmist suffered much from the faithlessness of man (cf. Psa. 35:12-16; 41:9), and found strong consolation and hope in the faithfulness of God. It transcends the faithfulness •of man. It is beyond human measurement: “Thy faithful- * ness reacheth unto the skies” (Psa. 36:5, R.V.). It is profitable exercise to review God’s faithfulness at even-' tide. Through the day His love has spared us, His presence had been near us, and His friendship out strength and stay. The remembrance of His faithful ness will recall, in contrast, our own faithlessness. How often we .have failed our Lord! We have been silent when we should have witnessed for Him. By our impatience, harshness, or anger, we have failed to glorify, “Him when tried by others. Our faith has been so feeble, our love so cold, our service so spiritless, and our mo tives so selfish and insincere. But in the hour when we are burdened with a deep sense of our unworthiness we find hope and comfort in the thought of God’s faithfulness: “ If we confess, our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). It is a comforting thought that how ever much we may fail Him, He never loses faith in us. He pferseveres with us, even though we disappoint Him. We hear much of man’s faith in God, of justifying faith; but how rarely do we hear of God's amazing faith in us. An anonymous writer who has been tried as by fire and come forth as gold, discovered in his trial that “God has faith in us, faith that in the end and in spite of every failure, we will fulfill the promise which His faithfulness perceives with in us.” Our Saviour was sure that though Peter would fail sadly, yet in the end he would come forth strong in faith and love, and ready to cham pion His cause and- be a tower of strength to tried and tempted souls. Such was His faith in Peter that He gave him a commission, even a few hours before his base denial: “When thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren” (Lk. 22:32). How we ought to praise God for His astounding con fidence in us! As we show forth God’s loving- kindness in the morning and renew His faithfulness at night, we shall prove with the Psalmist that “it is a good thing,” a beneficial exercise.
Praise for His Keeping In these days of peril we here in Britain have special cause to thank God for His loving-kindness during our unconscious hours. Last Sunday was spent with loved ones in their home in South East London. As we sat around the fire at the close of the day, our peace was disturbed by the sound of the “Alert.” Swiftly the invaders came upon us, and the ter rific and deafening noise above, when hundreds of shells and rockets were exploding overhead, was enough to shatter the nerves of the strongest and bravest of men. When the “Ail Clear” was given, we gave thanks to God for preservation, and prayed for His protecting care during the hours of darkness. We slept peace fully in our beds until 5 A.M., when again we endured - the Same nerve- wracking experience, and this time a bomb dropped not far from our home. At breakfast it was with grateful hearts we thanked God for sparing mercies. Do you appreciate and value the blessing of refreshing s l e e p ? To awaken in the morning renewed in body, mind, and soul, and fitted to face the tasks and trials of a new day, is truly a cause for thanksgiving and joy. We look at life so differently after a night of undisturbed slumber and feel equal to every situation. When David was tired and dis couraged after fleeing for his life from his treacherous son, Absalom, he cried to God for help, and God an swered his prayer by granting deep tranquil sleep. When he awoke, he was like a giant refreshed, and said, “I will#not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about” (Psa. 3:6). Do not forget to praise God on awak ing for His loving-kindness during the hours of darkness and danger, and for the blessing of quiet, refreshing sleep. As you sit down to your morn ing meal, lift up your heart in grati tude to God for a healing appetite, and for spreading your table with wholesome food. Remember, too, the millions in China and in Greece and elsewhere who suffer want; pray for the grace of self-denial for others’ sake. theearthre- maineth,seedtime and harvest♦ ♦ ♦ shallnot /ail* 0 en- 8 :? 2 *
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