August 1
Christianity a Life
It would be easier to get all the sunbeams
out of grasses and flowers and plants in the bright summer
days—than to get the life of Christ out of the world. It has
wrought itself into everything along these Christian centuries,
not only into the individual lives of Christ's followers—but
also into laws and systems and institutions, into thought and
literature and music and art. Christianity is not a mere creed.
There is that in it—which can never be wrapped up in forms, in
liturgies, in confessions. Nor is Christianity a mere code of
ethics; it is a life, a throbbing, pulsing, immortal life. It
enters into men as the sunshine enters into the plant or the
flowers. It becomes their very heart's blood, their breath,
their spirit. It inspires their thought, their feeling, their
words, their acts.
August 2
The Hidden Life
We are all conscious that we are living in
this world, even at our best—far below our best. We are
conscious, too, of possibilities of character hidden within us
undeveloped, and of powers of helpfulness in our life which we
have barely begun to exercise—but which might be drawn out into
activity. We see hints and gleams, and we have glimpses now and
then, of far more glorious life than we have yet reached. The
highest attainments here—are but the beginnings of sanctified
life. The peace, joy, love, unselfishness, service, purity,
holiness, reached in the ripest experiences of earthly
sainthood—are only dim intimations of what we may become—ay,
of what we shall become!
Our life is hid, concealed, with Christ in God
August 3
Life's Sensitivity
You go through a day of varying experiences,
and everything that touches your life—the words you hear, the
pictures you see, the books you read, the companions you meet
and with whom you associate, the friendship that warms your
heart—everything that touches you, leaves its mark on your
character. And it is not a mere passing, transient impression
that these things and
these lives and experiences leave
on your life; it is permanent work that they do. Not the great
stones in the massive building are so wrought into the fabric—as
these impressions are wrought into the character. Our lives are
temples, and everyone who touches us, is a builder. So it is
also with the influences we throw off on other lives. They make
their record there, and it is ineffaceable.
August 4
A Casket of Sweet Thoughts
"We cry, Abba,
Father." Romans 8:15 When we learn to look up to God out of
our weakness and sorrow, and say, "Abba, Father," what a
revelation does the name disclose! What a treasure of precious
love-thoughts does it unlock! For one thing, there is love in
this divine Fatherhood—love which never falters, which never
wearies, which stops at no sacrifice. There is also watchfulness which
never sleeps, which looks down with compassionate eye from above
the silent stars, and keeps vigil day and night. There is compassion,
also, which peers into the depths of all our want and woe. There
is shelter too,
forever does our Father stand between us and danger. There is guidance,
a divine Hand clasping ours and leading us along through every
difficult and dark way. No casket of earth's jewels holds so
rich a cluster—as does this heavenly casket, this name "Father,"
contain of the jewels of divine grace.
August 5
The Moral Power of "Yes"
It is important that we learn to say "Yes"—when
"Yes" is the true answer. To all invitations upward to truer,
deeper, richer, nobler life—we should instantly answer "Yes." All
calls to duty, to holy service, to noble deeds, to heroic
battle—we should meet with glad "Yes." While we instantly shut
our hearts against all that is impure and unholy, all thoughts
that would tarnish or stain or blight—we
should open them just as quickly to all thoughts which are pure and true and honest and just and lovely.
One of the old Bible answers which we hear so often from the
lips of saintly men, when called of God, is, "Here
am I!" It meant
readiness for instant, unquestioning obedience. We need to get
the same answer into our heart's vocabulary, that when God calls
we may always respond with our prompt, ringing "Here
am I!"
August 6
Spiritual Poverty
We are greedy after this world's things—and
never can get enough of them. But of the real things, the things
which will last through eternity—we are satisfied with very
small portions. "What do you seek?" asks the Master. His hands
filled with precious blessings; and we ask for some little
thing, some trifle, when we might have glorious fullness of
blessing. How very strange it must seem to the angels to see us
poor mortals giving our life, our very soul, to get some paltry
thing of earth, which will perish tomorrow; and then not taking
the precious spiritual blessings that we might have for the mere
asking!
August 7
Unseen Brethren
While we pour our kindness in perpetual
blessings upon those whose lives touch ours in our daily
walks—we must not forget that we have brethren whom we have
never seen. Says the old proverb, "There are people who live
beyond the hill." We must think of these in our planning for
ourselves. We are in danger of living in a very small world,
thinking of only a few people; but wherever there is a true
follower of the Lord Jesus Christ, there is one of our brothers.
He may be in India or China or Africa, or in some island of the
sea; still he is our brother, and we ought to have some kindly
thought for him.
August 8
Grief Ofttimes an Excuse
There are sorrows which wear no black, and
close no shutters, and drop no tears that men can see, and can
get no sympathy—but that of Christ and perhaps a closest human
brother. If you knew the inner life of many of the people you
work with, and do business with, and meet socially in the common
days—you would be very gentle with them; you would excuse their
peculiarities, their absentmindedness, their seeming
thoughtlessness at times. Grief makes life hard for very many
people. It is a wonder they can be as cordial and loving as they
are—in view of the burdens which crush them.
August 9
Testing Christ's Words
Every word of Christ comes to us with the
challenge, "Put me to the test. Try me. Prove me." True religion
is not a matter of theory—but
a matter of life.
We are to prove it—byliving it.
Take every word which Christ speaks, and begin at once to obey
it—if it is a command;
or trust it and lean on it—if it is a promise.
It does not matter if you do not understand it, nor see why the
command is good—still do it. Let God lead you—only be sure that
you obey and trust him. You will not know—any
faster than you will do. Only
keep on following Christ, and the way will open to you and
become plain as you go on step by step.
August 10
Christ in Sunshine
We are in danger of using our religion only
in our dark hours, when we are in some trouble. But we need
Christ just as much in our bright, prosperous, blessed hours—as
in the days of darkness, adversity, and depression. His religion
is just as much for our hours of joy—as for our days of grief.
There are just as many stars in the sky at noon as at midnight,
although we cannot see them in the sun's glare. And there are
just as many comforts and promises and divine encouragements and
blessings above us when we are in our noons of human gladness
and earthly success—as when we are in pain and darkness.
August 11
Are There Little Sins?
We talk about little sins—but when we
remember that every sin is committed against the infinite God,
and that all sins are eternal in their influences and
consequences—the smallest sin grows into stupendous importance.
Indeed, there is nothing little in moral life. How do we know
what is small or what is great in God's eye—or as measured by
its results through future ages? True faithfulness is not
careless in little things. It is harder always to be faithful in
small, obscure, unpraised things—than in things which are
brilliant and conspicuous. More people fail in doing the little things,
the common ho-hum
things, of everyday life—than in doing the greater and more
prominent things. Hence it is here that we need to keep double
watch upon ourselves. All fraying
out of character, begins
with one little thread left loose.
August 12
Imagining Christ's Beauty
Go and speak of Christ to others; tell them
of his holiness, his purity, his mercy, his patience, his great
love, his infinite gentleness; speak of his gracious beauty
until your face glows and your eyes shine with the luster of his
radiancy as you see it in his face. But do not fail to show them
in your own character, in your disposition, in your
love—patience, gentleness, sympathy, unselfishness, kindness,
purity—some gleams, some radiant hints, of the beauty of Christ.
Let people see in you—at least a dim reflection of the beauty
you praise.
August 13
Forgiving Injuries
Even those to whom we are the truest friends,
and for whom we do the most, will sometimes treat us unjustly
and do us hurtful injury. We cannot but feel the pain of such
wrongs; but if meekly borne—they will be turned to good for us,
by that divine love which transmutes everything into blessing,
for the life of faith. It is only when we cherish resentment and
hold grudge in our hearts—that the injuries done to us by others
really harm us. Forgiveness robs them of their power to hurt us.
Let us forgive generously. Too much of our forgiveness is with
reservation: "I forgive you; but .
. ." The fuller our forgiveness, the richer blessing do we take
from the injurious treatment.
August 14
God's Goodness in All
It is not hard to believe in the divine
goodness—when all things are joyous. The hard thing is to
believe in it just as firmly and quietly—when all things seem
against us. The goodness of God is just as surely and as richly
revealed in the dark things
of providence, as in the bright things.
God comes to us in many forms; but always his name is Love,
always is he our Father. We
keep two lists, and write some things as " prosperous and
some as "adverse." God writes "goodness" over all.
August 15
What Grace Does Not Do
Grace does not take trouble out
of human life. It does not make all the world feel kindly toward
you. It does not hush the tongue of reproach and scorn. It does
not quell the contentions of life. It does not soften human
harshness, nor destroy selfishness. It does not hush the sharp
voices of criticism, fault-finding, and frivolous talk. It does
not command a truce to jealous rivalries and envyings, to
personal abuse and silly strife. It does not say to the adverse
winds, "Blow not on my home." Christ makes no charmed
circle about us
where we shall never more feel the blast of the storm; but he
gives a peace that will keep the heart calm and tranquil, in the
midst of the angriest strifes and storms.
August 16
Working By Faith
Faith links a man to Christ, so that he is no
more a mere common man, with only his own poor feeble
strength—but is more than a man—a man whom Christ is using,
behind whom Christ's omnipotent energy is working. We must yield
ourselves altogether to God and let him use us. Then his power,
his wisdom, his skill, his thoughts, his love shall flow through
our souls, our brains, our hearts, and our fingers. That is
working by faith. It is simply putting our life into God's hand
to be used, as one uses a pen to
write, or a brush to
paint, or achisel to
carve the statue.
August 17
Receiving Correction Patiently
Very many people are glad to correct others,
and think it very strange they will not take the correction or
criticism patiently, while if anyone tries the same with
them—they quickly resent it. What is good for another sinner
ought to be good for us too. Let us seek for grace to take
correction from those who love us. If a friend tells us of a
fault, let us not get angry, even if he does it awkwardly so as
to give us pain. Let us thank him, and set about to cure the
fault. Even from the lips of an enemy in anger—we may yet get
lessons which will do us good to learn.
August 18
Blessing of Conflict
We enter a world of antagonism and
opposition—the moment we resolve at Christ's feet to be
Christians, to be true men and women, to obey God, to forsake
sin, to do our Christian duty. There never comes an hour when we
can live nobly without effort, without making resistance to
wrong influences, without struggle against the power of
temptation. It never gets easy to be a worthy and faithful
Christian. Sometimes we are almost ready to give it all up and
to cease our struggling; but we should remember that the
spiritual nobleness and beauty after which we are striving—can
become ours only through this very struggling.
August 19
Blessing of Darkness
We shall learn in the end—that the best
treasures of life and character, come out of the dark, painful
hours. In days and nights of pain—we learn endurance. In the
struggles with doubt and fear—we find at last bright blessed
faith. In the darkness of sorrow—we learn the song of joy. In
weary suffering—we acquire sweet pity for others. Meet every
hard thing, every obstacle, every trial, every disappointment,
every sorrow—with faith. Be more than conqueror over it, through
Him who loved you, and it will leave blessing, treasure, and
enrichment, in your life.
August 20
Christian Conversation
"Your speech should always be gracious."
Colossians 4:6. We are to talk about the bright, beautiful,
joyful things around us. The Christian must not be
sanctimonious. Religion suffers from nothing more than from pious
cant. Our talk on business, on science, on pleasure, on
whatever theme, should be fragrant with the perfume of grace. An
old proverb says: "The heart and the tongue are only a span
apart." If a man's heart is touched by the grace of God, his
lips will speak ever words of beauty, truth, and gentle love on
whatever theme he may speak.
August 21
Our Personal Creed
How many of us have taken our Bibles—and put
the doctrines of our creed to the proof? Our creeds might be
shorter if we did this; yet if we only believed two or three
great doctrines, and believed them after personal inquiry, and
were able to tell why we believed them—it would be better than
if we believed thirty-nine or forty or any number of doctrines
merely because our
church teaches
them. It is time we should begin to think earnestly about these
things. Every Christian ought to be able to give an intelligent
reason for the faith that is in him. Our
personal creeds ought to grow out of our daily searching of the
Word and our daily living.
August 22
No Strange Mystery There
"We know that all things work together for
the good of those who love God—to those who are called according
to His purpose." Romans 8:28. There are depths in the love of
God, which are as vast and fathomless as the ocean—but we are
only on the shore.
Then there are inscrutable things in God's providential dealings
with each one of us. Heaven will solve a thousand mysteries for
us in a moment. We will then see the reason for every trial,
every pain, every loss, every disappointment. There will not be
a trace of mystery left hanging about any providence. Love will
glow everywhere. Then we shall see clearly,
what now we know only by faith—"that
all things work together for the good of those who love God—to
those who are called according to His purpose."
August 23
Loving Unlovely People
"Above all, love each other deeply—because
love covers over a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8. There are
some people whom it is very easy to love. They are congenial to
our tastes. They have amiable qualities or charming manners, or
they have befriended us, or they are our social companions. But
there are others who are not congenial—not amiable—not to our
taste. They have unlovely and disagreeable traits. Faults mar
the beauty of their character. Yet if we are Christians—we
should not fail to show brotherly love toward any. We must seek
that love, which hides the multitude of sins and faults.
August 24
Misrepresenting Christ
If we are sour, peevish, easily provoked,
surly, resentful, jealous, envious, bad-tempered in any way—what
sort of impression
of Christ do we
give to those who know nothing of him—but what they learn from
our lives? Surely if we love Christ truly—we will not allow
ourselves to continue to dishonor him—by living a life so
unworthy of his dear name. Whatever we may do for Christ, in gifts to
his cause or work in
his service—if we fail to live out his life of sweet patience
and kindness—we fail of an essential part of our duty as
Christians. "I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you
have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient,
bearing with one another in love." Ephesians 4:1-2
August 25
The Well in the Heart
All noble life must be an inspiration from
within—a well of water springing up—the spontaneous outflow of a
full heart. We must seek to be filled with the divine Spirit.
Then self will die. Then our life will breathe blessings and
drop blessings everywhere. Our very look will be full of
kindness. We shall radiate light wherever we move, chasing away
the darkness of others' sorrow. Then, sharing our loaf with
the hungry, our joy with
the joyless, our strength with
the fainting—Christ will give us more and more of comfort, joy,
strength, and helpful power, and at last will share with us his
own crown and glory. For the well in the heart—springs up into
everlasting life.
August 26
The Blessing of Trust
You cannot take into the innermost circle of
your own heart's friends, one who does not fully trust you. Doubt builds
walls between hearts. Distrust hinders
close fellowship. The same is true in friendship with Jesus.
There must be perfect trust—if we would get near to him. He
knows those who trust in him. He feels the touch of every hand
that rests in faith upon his arm. He feels the gentle pressure
of every head that is laid upon his bosom. He hears every sweet
breathing of confidence that goes up from our lips. Oh for that
trust that, in every experience of sorrow and joy, remains calm
and unbroken!
August 27
The One Perfect Life
Where do we find the truest, noblest life?
There is no smallest fragment of our humanity, which retains the
absolute perfection and beauty that were in human life as it
came first from the Creator's hand. If we would see life in its
wholeness, unmarred, undebased—the highest, purest, truest
life—we must look at Jesus. We are to become like Christ. We
should never, therefore, lose sight of him. Keeping the ideal
always before our eyes will, unconsciously yet powerfully, draw
us toward it. "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus!" Hebrews 12:2. "And
we, who with unveiled faces all contemplate the Lord's glory,
are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing
glory!" 2 Corinthians 3:18
August 28
Not in the Easy Paths
We are strongly tempted, in these luxurious
days—to seek out the easy ways in life. Naturally we are not
fond of bearing heavy burdens, of performing hard tasks, of
making self-denials. We prefer to be indolent. Not many people
die of overwork; more die of laziness. Souls are
withered, too, by self-indulgence. It is a false idea that God
has sown his blessings thickest. amid the flowers of earth's gardens;
nay, they lie thickest on the bare fields of hardship and toil.
In shrinking from self-denials called for in the path of duty—we
are missing the best things God has to give us. "If anyone would
come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily
and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for me will save it." Luke 9:23-24
August 29
Uselessness of Worry
Worrying about your hard work, does not make
the work any easier—and it only makes you less strong and
courageous for doing it. Worrying about some misfortune which
you cannot help—makes the misfortune no less, and only renders
its endurance harder. Thus far even common-sense goes. Then true
religion goes farther, and assures us that even the hard things,
the obstacles and the hindrances, become blessings if we meet
them in faith. They become stepping-stones upward, disciplinary
experiences in which we may grow ever into nobler, stronger
life.
August 30
Trust Better Than Questions
We ought not to ask questions about our
Father's ways—why he does this—why he does that. Surely it is
better to trust our Father—than to weary our brain with efforts
to solve the mysteries of his providence. Questions indicate
fear or doubt. Perfect trust asks no questions, does not seek to
understand the mysteriousness of God's ways. It says, "Even so,
Father—for so it seems good in your sight," and rests there in
perfect peace. Of course we cannot expect always to understand
God's ways—he would not be God if we could; but we know that
God's love is the key to them all, and that in time, all shall
be made clear even to us.
August 31
The Greatest Work
We cultivate benevolence, charity,
philanthropy, patriotism. We feed the hungry, and visit the
sick, and minister to the poor, and provide for the widow and
the orphan, and practice generosity. We emphasize personal
character and service. We try to do good to men's bodies. We
educate their minds. We seek their best interests in all
physical and intellectual ways. All this is well so far as it
goes; but we have not yet reached the greatest of all earthly
things, the most important of all the work which a Christian can
do. Are we striving to win souls? Are we seeking the lost to
bring them to Christ? Saving souls is earth's greatest work!
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