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5. Study the close relationship found between right thinking (v. 8) and right living (v. 9). Could you give to your friends the advice that Paul did to the Philippians, that others are to do the things which they have heard and seen in you? If not, why not? 6. Undoubtedly, the correct rendering of verse 13 is, “I can endure all things through Christ who enables me.” Discuss this rendering in the light of Paul’s words in verses 10 to 12, and in consideration of his tremendous trials, difficulties, and per secutions. Climax this discussion with the promise of an unlimited supply (v. 19). 7. For four weeks, we have been studying the “Joy-book” of the New Tes tament. Why not conclude the discussions with a brief time of praise, in which you thank God that you can rejoice in the Lord always. “Joy to the world, the Lord is come; let earth receive her King.” When America Forgets God $?J? h e best w a y to become unpopular is to prophesy judgment and destruc tion. Every generation likes to hug to itself the delusion that it is permanent. If we are to discover the future of civiliza tion, there are only three sources of infor mation. We have prophecy, and it indi cates that the end of this age will be a time of distress and confusion. We have history, and history indicates that there always have been war and corruption. Then we have human nature. As human nature has failed in the past, how dare any glowing optimist expect it to succeed in the future? History, geology, arch aeology, and the Bible tell us a crisis story. Nations and civilizations have gone on un eventfully for centuries and suddenly have been plunged into chaos or blotted out of existence. It,was not mere poetry when the psalmist of old said: “The wicked shall be turned back unto Sheol, even all nations that forget God.” The les son of all history is that God will event ually attain His purpose. Nebuchadnezzar may defy God, but God’s final answer is destruction. Napoleon may say to Deity: “You rule up there, and I will rule down here.” But God’s answer is the island of St. Helena. Out of Russia has come a ru mor which can not be downed, that Le- nine, the Red dictator, spent his last days crawling on all fours, snarling and snap ping like a beast. There is no reason to believe that America can defy the divine law and continue to exist. If an age produces godlessness, it will produce lawlessness; and moral defiance will bring moral dis aster.— W ii ^ . H . H o u g h t o n . Knowledge Begets Love We always love people if we know them. It is always safe to conclude, if we do not love a man, that it is because we do not know him. I like to think, as I walk down the crowded street, that every soul I meet, however commonplace or un attractive, is all the world to somebody. Somebody loves him because somebody knows him. And, to that somebody, heav en would be no heaven without him. The world is a very lovable place, and its people are very lovable people. We do not know the world, and therefore we do not love the world. But God knows the world, and therefore “God so loved the World.”— F . W. B o r e h a m .
CDaily CDevoiionalc^J^eaditugs A M E S S A G E F O R E V E R Y DAY O F T H E M O N T H
, NOVEMBER 17 " If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” (John 15:7). When the first iron bridge was in pro cess of building at Colebrook Dale, Eng land, a fiddler came along and threatened to “fiddle the bridge down.” The work ingmen laughingly said, “Fiddle away.” He tried note after note on his instru ment until he hit upon one that coincided with the structure’s vibrating movement; and as he sounded that note with pro longed effort, the structure began to quiver so perceptibly that the workmen begged him to stop lest the bridge should fall. A similar principle prevails in the spirit ual world. There is a ' note of prayer which agrees (symphonizes) with the di vine will, which carries with it the an swer. The whole divine will is thus put in motion by some humble petitioner, and pushes forward to the promised end. — S elected . NOVEMBER 18 “He restorelh my soul" (Psa. 23:3). These words are among the most pre cious in this priceless psalm. They speak to the experience of many children of God, who are deeply conscious of their need of the restoring grace of the good Shepherd. We are not always susceptible and obedient to the heavenly leadings; we easily relapse into states of lethargy and indifference, and it is necessary that we should be restored. The most fruitful source of spiritual declension is the neg lect of the Word of God and of private devotion. Just so long as the spirit of man keeps on terms of intimacy with the loving Spirit of God, while the Bible is regularly and prayerfully studied, and the habit of retirement is maintained, there will be a regular growth in grace and in the knowledge and love of God. If only the golden pipes are kept free and unclogged, there will be an uninterrupted flow of the golden oil to feed the flame of a holy life. We know all this. Our hearts have often tasted the sweet refreshment and holy encouragement which are found in these quiet, blessed hours spent in the Most Holy Place. We know that there is nothing which is more productive of all that makes life worth having as com munion with God. And yet, this is the one exercise which we are most prone to hurry or neglect. Is it, then, to be won dered at that the energies of the spiritual life decline, and sadly need the interposi tion of some strong, wise hand to restore? —F. B. M ey er . NOVEMBER 19 “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5: 17). That heart in which the true love of God and true desire exist, never ceases to pray. Love, hid in the bottom of the soul, prays without ceasing, even when the mind is drawn another way. God con-
NOVEMBER IS “For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock” (Psa. 27:5). In a world where there is so much to ruffle the spirit’s plumes, how needful that entering into the secret of His pavilion, which will alone bring it back to compo sure and peace! In a world where there is so much to sadden and depress, how blessed that communion with Him in whom is the one true source and foun tain of all true gladness and abiding joy! In a world where so much is ever seek ing to unhallow our spirits, to render them common and profane, how high the privilege of consecrating them anew in prayer to holi'ness and to God! — R ic h a r d C h e n e v ix T r e n c h . “A bruised and broken reed sustain, sus tain ! Divinest Comforter, to Thee I fly, To whom no soul hath ever fled in vain; Support me with Thy love, or else I die! “Father, whate’er I had, it all was Thine; A God of mercy Thou hast ever been; Oh, help me what I most love to resign, And if I murmur, count it not for sin I” Noah, the believer in God’s Word; Dan iel, the doer of God’s law; and Job, the patient hearer of God’s will—these are the three forms in which life comes to every man; these are the three characters into which men are trained by every faithful acceptance of their life at the hands of God; and these are the three types of loy alty in whose completion humanity would be complete. The city is rich in which there is a Noah, a Daniel, and a Job. Each adds his element to what the rest contribute, and the whole city’s life is balanced and complete. The life is rich which God has filled with knowledge, duty, and patience, making them all chan nels through which He gives to it Him self. Let us pray that we may rebel against no treatment, though it seem to us very hard, which enriches us with any one of these elements that we may lack, and makes us a little more wise with His wisdom, or faithful to His law, or pa tient under His will. For so only can we gain Him, whom to have perfectly is the perfection of our life. O my God, bestow upon me such con fidence,' such peace, such happiness in Thee, that Thy will may always be dearer to me than my own will, and Thy pleasure than my own pleasure. All that Thou givest is Thy free gift to me; all that Thou takest away, Thy grace to me. Be Thou thanked for all, praised for all, loved for all.— P h il l ip s B roo ks . NOVEMBER 16 “These three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job” (Ezek. 14:14).
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