December, 1949
p? ‘Devotional ^eadiaqo
Living and Walking "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25). Lest anyone should imagine that a life which is lived step by step with the Spirit is an irksome one, let us be reminded that unfailing obedience produces unfailing joy and peace. A joyless Christian is almost invariably a disobedient Christian. A life of self-renouncing love is a life of lib erty for, “where the Spirit of the Lord is [where He is recognized .and obeyed] there is liberty.” Step by step, is the secret of a life that is never perturbed, never surprised by sudden assaults of the evil one, never shorn of its spiritual strength. To follow thus will fill our life with such Joy and power as we never have dreamed possible. —G. Gregory Mantle. + + + Jesus Talks to a Ruler "That which is born of the flesh Is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:6). Jesus is here speaking to a rich young ruler, Nicodemus, a religious scholar, and doubtless a polished gen tleman. "Flesh” in the Bible means, in simple language—man as he is. Educated flesh or uneducated flesh, is still flesh, and all flesh is corrupt. Man is a fallen creature. He may be cul-. tured, educated and refined, but to be spiritually minded he must be born again, born of the Spirit. —L. R. R. + + + The Greatest Need of the W o r ld “ For in that he himself hath suf fered being tempted, he is able to suc cour them that are tempted” (Heb. 2:18). Jesus looks down over Heaven’s bat tlements upon the teeming millions of suffering men, women, and children. He is still the all-sufficient Saviour. Do mm. need forgiveness? A ll they have to do is to ask for it. Do they need Wisdom? All they have to do is to ask Him for it. He said He would give it to them. Do they need power over temptation? He promises that He is able to succour those who are tempted. All that this poor, miser able, wretched, sin-cursed world needs is Jesus,!. ! ■ —Bob Jones, Jr.
That Ye Sorrow Not "1 would not have you to be igno rant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope” (1 Thess. 4:13). Please note that Paul does not say that he wrote that they might not sorrow, for all people have sorrow in this world; there is no escape. No one ever lived in this world with out pain, disappointment, and sor row. Paul assured them here that they world see their loved ones again, and he made it plain that the Lctfd would come jack some day. He made it clear that Jesus might return at any time, and that when He does come He will raise the loved ones who have died, and we, who are alive, shall be caught np together with them, to Heaven, to be forever with the Lord.. "Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” —Anonymous. + + + He Will Not Fail "Being confident . . . that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6). Christ is coming again. Paul is always rejoicing in that fact—always caning the attention of his converts to that glorious truth. It is the very strength of his life; it buoys him up in weakness and weariness. He had seen the Lord in glory; now he is waiting for the Lord of glory to come, if our hope is in Him, He will perfect all that He has begun. He is more than equal to the task of conquering every difficulty that may beset our path. He will not fail. —W. Graham Scroggie. "Thy faithfulness is unto all gen erations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth” (Psa. 119:90). The nearer God draws us to Him self, the more we recognize His Word to be an eternal structure of infal lible truth. It is the only Book which guides us in the true light, and in structs us in building on the one im movable and firm foundation. What a comfort in these troublous times! —Gospel Herald. + + + Solace in Trouble
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Come, Lord Jesus "Surely I come quickly, Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22:20). Are you looking and longing for the coming of the Lord Jesus? He began his wonderfjxl work for us when He purchased us on Calvary’s Cross; there He redeemed us. Ever since we met Him at the foot of the Cross, He has been Working in us, and for us. "He must increase, but I must decrease’’ (John 3:30). He desires to perfect His work in us, but we must be willing and submissive. Each day brings nearer the hour when we shall see Him face to face; we shall see Him as He is—and wonder of all wonders—we shall be like Him! —Anonymous. + + + Self-Righteousness "And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore his father came out, and intreated him” (Luke 15:28). The essence of sin presents itself to us in these two sons as self-seeking. The elder son remains in the house of the father and serves him, but the impelling power of love is want ing. He seeks his reward not in his father’s recognition, but in the calf for which he vainlv hones! T j T o himself, in his blindness, never to have transgressed a com:.. ..dr, e,.i _and yet forgets precisely that which is weightiest in the law—mercy and love. —Lange. + + + Once for All “Once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself” (Heb. 9:26). From the first recorded temptation to the last, the efforts of the evil one were directed to the task of in ducing our Lord to spare Himself, to shun the Cross, to withhold the liba tion of His death. But having given all but life itself, He offered Himself as a living sacrifice to God on behalf of men. * “In perfect love He dies; For me He dies, for me. O all-atoning Sacrifice, I cling by faith to Thee!” —David M. McIntyre.
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