DECEMBER

Back to Miller's Year Book

A verse of Scripture in the morning, may become a blessing for all the day. It may sing in the heart as a sweet song, from morning until evening.
It may become a liturgy of prayer in which the soul shall voice its deepest needs and hungers—amid toils, struggles, and cares. It may be a guide through perplexing tangles, 'God's voice' whispering cheer, a comforter breathing peace in sorrow.

December 1.

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today." Matthew 6:34

One reason our Lord gives for not worrying about the future—is that we have nothing to do with it. Each day has its own duties, its own needs, its own trials and temptations; and God always gives us strength enough 'for the day'. We must not drag in tomorrow's cares, and add them to today's—for our strength will not be enough, for God will not add to the day's portion of strength, just to humour our whims of anxiety.

So the lesson is, that we should keep the days fenced off, each one by itself. Do today's duty, fight today's temptation, and do not weaken and distract yourself by looking forward to things which you cannot see, and could not understand if you saw them. When tomorrow comes—it will bring its own strength. "As your days—so shall your strength be." Deuteronomy 33:25

December 2.

"Go away for now. When it is more convenient, I will call for you again." Acts 24:25

This the way men are continually acting. They hear the truth and feel its power—but put off action. Felix was not true to his own best interests. He was not honest with himself. He saw the wrong in his own life; he had a glimpse of the judgement; he was terrified; he knew what he ought to do—yet he put the matter off. He did not doubt the truth of what Paul said, he did not actually reject the Saviour Paul offered; he merely postponed action. Some other time, he would find it more convenient to adjust his life to the requisite condition.

This is a well-trodden highway, and there always are thousands upon it. They believe the Word of God, and are terrified when they think of the solemn facts of eternity. They mean to turn and be saved—but they put it off. There will be a more convenient season by and by. It is a terribly mistaken way to go. The best time to repent and be saved—is always NOW. A more convenient season will never come. Countless thousands have been lost by saying tomorrow when they should have said today.

December 3.

"This is the man who teaches against our people and tells everybody to disobey the Jewish laws. He speaks against the Temple—and he even defiles it by bringing Gentiles in!" Acts 21:28

This was a case of gross misrepresentation. Paul had never uttered a word against either the Jewish people, the law, or the temple. They had perverted and distorted his words—into meanings he never thought of. Many people thus take the words of others, give a wrong sense to them, and then repeat them!

Misrepresentation is a grievous sin. Many a calumny that destroys a fair name, grows from a mere misstatement, an inexact reporting of something said or done. We should be scrupulously careful, if we must repeat what others say, that we state the precise truth. No fault of speech is more common—than lack of accuracy in quoting. Most people's ears seem to hear with a bias in favour of their own prejudices; then in reporting what they have heard, the bias is too apt to show its influence a second time inemphasizing the distortion.

Besides, when a story travels as far as from Ephesus to Jerusalem, and passes through a number of ears and tongues, it is scarcely to be expected that it will arrive just the same as it started. It is proverbial, that stories grow in frequent repetition. Paul is not the only person who has not recognized at all his own words after they had gone the rounds. Let us learn the virtue of accuracy. Inaccuracy is lying!

December 4.

"Having loved His own who were in the world—He loved them unto the end!" John 13:1

His own! How sweet the words are! They tell of a close and most sacred relation. His own! We belong to him, not simply as property—but in the ownership of love. "You are not your own, for you are bought with a price." The prints of the nails—tell of the cost of our redemption. We are "His own" because the Father gave us to Him. "They were Yours—and You gave them to Me!" Then we are "His own" because we have voluntarily given ourselves to Him. That is what you did when you became a Christian. You accepted the love that claimed you.

The relation is like that between two friends. The world cannot inter-meddle. It is a close, personal relation. All believers are Christ's own—but there is a sense in which each one has all of Christ for himself. We all sit down at the same communion table and the banner of love is over all; yet each one has a whole communion of his own. The sun shines upon the broad field and bathes all the million grass-blades and flowers in his beams. But each blade and each flower can say, "The sun is mine; he shines for me!" Christ's love is for all his church; but the smallest of his little ones can say, "He is my Friend, my Saviour, my Master!" "We are Christ's own." All of Christ is ours—all of his love and all of his grace.

December 5.

"Blessed is the man whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered!" Psalm 32:1

True blessedness can ever come to anyone—until forgiveness has come. Unforgiven sin lies as a heavy curse upon a life. No other favour or prosperity is of any avail while sin remains un cancelled. But with forgiveness, comes all the blessedness of life and glory. When we are forgiven, we become at once God's children, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ to all the rich inheritance of eternal life. All the blessings of salvation are in this one.

We may study also with profit the word "cover." There is one way of covering sin which brings no blessing. We must not try to cover our own sin. "He who covers his sins shall not prosper; but whoever confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy." Sins thatwe cover—are not put away. They are like the quiet fires in the volcano, ready to burst out any moment in all their terribleness. But when God covers our sins they are put out of sight forever out of our sight, the world's sight, God's sight.

In one place God says he will remember our sins against us no more. The covering is complete and final. The sins are covered by the atonement of Christ. "All we like sheep have gone astray; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquities of us all." If our sins were laid on Jesus Christ—they are covered forever, and will never rise up against us.

December 6.

"He got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him." John 13:4-5

There are many pictures of Jesus the Holy Child in the manger, the Redeemer on the cross, the Conqueror with the keys—but none of them surpasses that of the servant with the towel and basin. We get the lesson of service. Jesus did hot think his holy hands too fine for the washing of the feet of the twelve men who sat around the table. Many of us think we are too fine in the texture of our being, or too high in our rank among men, to stoop to lowly service like this! This picture of the Christ is a New Testament answer to all such pride and pretension.

Our service should be personal. Christ washed the feet of his disciples with his own hands. Too many like to do all their serving by proxy. They believe in washing feet—but they get some other person to do it for them. They will pay something to a missionary to visit and relieve the poor or the sick—but will not do the work with their own hands. This is not what Christ's example teaches us. We would better do the serving ourselves.

December 7.

Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." John 13:7

It is never wise for us to pass judgement on any of God's providences, while we can read but a part of their meaning. No work can be fairly judged, while it is only in progress. We must wait until it is completed. As the end must sometimes lie far out of sight, whether it be in future years of earthly life, or in the unrevealed life beyond earth's horizon—we need to train ourselves to trust the goodness and the love of God, believing that he will do only what is right—and what is best also for us. It is faith alone can give us peace.

December 8.

"Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry" James 1:19

We ought to think twice before we speak. Sometimes we are advised if we are feeling unkindly, to count ten before we open our mouth. Yet hasty words oft-times fly from our lips in the moment of excited feeling; and before we have time to think twice, or count half of ten, the harm is done, the sharp word has flashed like a dart into some gentle heart.

These hasty words are spoken, too, most frequently between those who love each other. We control our speech fairly well when it is with strangers, or ordinary acquaintances we are speaking; but with those we love best—we are less careful. We let our worry or our weariness make us irritable, and then we utter the hasty words which five minutes afterwards, we would give all we have to recall. But such words never can be recalled. They may be forgiven, for love forgives until seventy times seven times; but the wounds, the scars, remain.

December 9.

"So God said to him, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice—I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart." 1 Kings 3:11-12

The Lord approved the choice Solomon had made. It was an unselfish choice. He was thinking of his people, and wanted to be a good king. It was a spiritual choice—not gold, power, victory, and fame—but wisdom to qualify him for duty, to fit him for fulfilling well his mission. Such a choice always pleases God. He loves to have us choose the best things.

James says that the reason men ask and receive not—is because they ask that they may consume God's gifts on their lusts. The prayer of selfishness is never pleasing to God; but he is pleased when we ask for things to be used in blessing others. The prayer for mere earthly things, may really be for a curse upon our life. Midas desired the power to change whatever he touched into gold. His request was granted; and the fruits he plucked, and the food he would put into his mouth—all turned to gold, until in the agonies of starvation he was compelled to cry for the withdrawal of the power. It was a curse, not a blessing to him.

So it is with those who live only for wealth; they get it, but their souls are starving! Solomon asked for wisdom only, and left all other matters to God's own choice. Jesus said, "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."

December 10.

"I had it in my heart to build a house for the Name of the LORD my God. But this word of the LORD came to me: You are not to build a house for my Name." 1 Chronicles 22:7-8

God was pleased with David's desire, but it was not David's work to build a temple. His part was to conquer the country, and gather materials for the house. Sometimes the things we purpose to do—we are not permitted to accomplish. They belong to some other worker who is to come after us, and are not part of our mission at all.

There are many people called to do preparatory work. A man goes to the West, and clears off a piece of ground, building a crude log hut. His son succeeds him, and in the midst of broad, rich acres erects a palatial home. The father's work was just as important in its place, though not so conspicuous, as the son's. One set of men make the excavations for a building, and then put in the foundations. For weeks they toil underground; and then another set of men come, the walls rise up, and the magnificent building attracts all eyes. The foundation work is buried out of sight, but who will say that it is less important than the splendid walls that tower above the street?

But for what David did, Solomon never could have built the temple. It is the same in all life. To each one God allots a place and a part; and if we do that which God gives us to do, he asks nothing more.

December 11.

"This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'If you will walk in my ways and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here." Zechariah 3:7

The way to rise to higher places—is to be faithful where we are. Unless we do well, the smaller things which God gives us to do—he will not entrust greater things to us. The man who was faithful and diligent in the use of his two talents, saw the two become four, and found himself put in trust also with new responsibilities. The promise here was, that if this good priest would walk in God's ways, and keep his charge—he would have influence and power in God's house, and should stand among angels.

This latter is a remarkable promise. It seems to mean that even on the earth, those who are faithful in holy things, shall have fellowship with angels. They may not be conscious of the companionship amid which they stand, but really they are working alongside spiritual beings continually while they wait upon God.

Then, those who serve God faithfully and diligently in holy things in this world will be received into the good fellowship of angels in the other world. The lesson, however, is that faithfulness in the common duties of the passing days is the one thing of life with us. If we live thus, God will lead us step by step, even into larger service and greater usefulness, as he may find us ready. We need not worry about our promotion; the only real promotion is that which comes through fidelity.

December 12.

"The entire Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness!" Exodus 16:2

As soon as the people of Israel got away from the visible means of sustenance, they lost heart. It is strange, we say, that so soon they could have forgotten all God's wonderful deliverances in the past.

But are we any more trustful? We sing and are joyful while things go well; and then when affliction or need come—away go the song and the joy! There is a great deal of murmuring still done—when pleasant Elims have to be left for wilderness wanderings. How much happier we would be, if we had learned to walk by faith rather than by sight! A promise of God really is a great deal better security for provision in life, than any quantity of food in store, or any amount of money in the bank. Nothing in this world is so real—as are the invisible things of God's love. If we are his children—we may trust him absolutely, no matter how dreary the desert may be!

December 13.

"Moses alone shall come near unto the Lord. The others must not come near. And the people may not come up with him." Exodus 24:2

There are always some who are admitted to closer intimacy with Christ than others. In his first disciple family, John came nearest. The way is open, however, for all to come as near as they will. Yet it is not height on earth's hills, that takes us closest to him. Those are greatest in the kingdom of heaven—so the Master said—who are most like children; also those who serve the most sweetly and unselfishly. In the Psalm, too, when the question is asked, "Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord?" the answer is, "He who has clean hands and a pure heart."

Getting up in the world—may not be getting up toward God; yet we may rise toward God, and that surely is infinitely the worthiest aspiration of an immortal soul. Moses was called up near to God that he might get blessings to carry down to the people. Those who get closer to God than others—are always privileged to become blessings to the world. God fills their hands with gifts that they are to distribute, and reveals to them precious things that they are to communicate to others.

December 14.

"All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5

What is humility? It is not thinking lowly of one's self. It is not a voluntary humbling of one's self for any particular purpose. It is the spirit which is ready always to use its best powers and its richest gifts—in the lowliest service of love. Love is at the heart of it. When we truly love others—we are interested in them, and will do them any service they need, however hard or costly or lowly it may be, not considering ourselves too fine to serve them, nor any possession of ours too good to be used in their behalf.

It is not the lowly place in which one lives and works which makes one humble. One may be proud, and move in a very obscure sphere. Humility is in the spirit, not in the station.

December 15.

"My little children, we must not love in word or speech—but in deed and truth!" 1 John 3:18

More and more are Christian people learning that true religion must have adequate and fitting expression in the life. A sound creedand activity in Christian work, are not the best tests of Christ-likeness. It is in Christian character, and in the exercise of the spiritual graces in life's contacts—that Christian culture finds its finest expression.

To put it more simply, love is the true measure of Christian life. Becoming a Christian is simply letting the love of God into the heart. This love is something which cannot be hidden. If the love of God is in the heart—it will work its way out in the life! So it always does. The love of God dwells not in a man—who does not love his neighbour. The nearer we come to the heart of Christ, the deeper and tenderer becomes our interest in our brothers and sisters.

December 16.

"Buy the truth—and do not sell it; get wisdom, discipline and understanding." Proverbs 23:23

It is not with money that we buy the truth; the price we must pay is our self-will, our pride, our self-confidence. We ought, however, to yield ourselves utterly to the truth, and should do it promptly. He who will not pay any price, however great, to be true—is losing where he seems to be saving.

There is a legend of King Tarquin and the sibyl. The old woman came into the king's presence with nine large books, containing prophecies and counsels concerning Rome. She offered them for sale, but asked a price so high, that the king hesitated to buy them. "Wait until tomorrow," said the king. Next day she came again, but with only six books, having destroyed three; and for the six she asked twice as much as she had asked for the nine. Tarquin again declined to purchase, and the woman again withdrew. Once more she came, this time with only three of the volumes, and asking a yet higher price! Tarquin dared delay no longer, and purchased the books at the cost of half his treasure, for they were of great value to him.

Likewise, the truth is offered to us, but at a high price. If we delay, less and less is offered to us, and it ever costs us more to buy. The best time to begin to buy God's truth—is in gentle youth. We buy it when we live it, no matter at what sacrifice.

December 17.

"He was despised and rejected by men." Isaiah 53:3

The saddest thing about the life of Christ—was the rejection he met among those he had come to bless. He came with a great love in his heart. He wanted to do them good, to draw them away from their sins, to make them love God, to lead them to heaven. "He came unto his own—and his own received him not." He went to their doors and knocked, and they kept their doors shut upon him; and he had to go away with his gifts and blessings unbestowed, leaving "his own" in their sin and sorrow.

It is the same yet. Christ comes with treasures of life and glory, which he offers to all; but men and women pay no heed to his knocking and his calls, and he has to pass on. "He is despised and rejected." He never forces his blessings on any. He knocks, but we must open the door. He will never open it himself.

In Holman Hunt's picture, "The Light of the World," the door has no knob on the outside; it can be opened only from within. You can keep the omnipotent Christ outside your heart if you will; you do keep him out by simply not rising to open to him. It does not need dishonouring sins, nor any violent rejection of the Saviour, to make one a lost sinner; the mildest and gentlest indifference to his knocking and call—will do it just as effectually.

December 18.

"Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ." Acts 28:31

This is the last glimpse the book of Acts gives us of Paul. The glorious apostle appears as a prisoner, though keeping open house and receiving all who came to him. No doubt many came to him with their questions, their burdens, their sorrows. Men with gentle spirit and deep and wide sympathies become a blessing to many people in the world. Those whose hearts are hungry, or who are under the shadow of grief or of sin, turn to them with eagerness, as thirsty animals turn to springs of water. That was the kind of man Paul was, and no doubt many came to him with their needs. He had something they had not. He listened to them patiently, and sympathized with them tenderly.

But notice also, the kind of help he gave to those who came. He preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ. He fed their hunger with the bread of heaven. He pointed them to the only source of comfort. He presented Christ to them as the only One who could help them and bless them. We have nothing in ourselves to give to those who come seeking help or comfort. We can only point them to the Saviour!

These prison days of Paul were among the most fruitful of his whole ministry. Likewise, we may make our shut-in days full of good for the world.

December 19.

"He went on his way rejoicing!" Acts 8:39

He did not give up his journey and decide to go back among the other Christians, because he was now a believer. He went on his way to his own country and to his own business; but he had a new secret of joy in his heart. Part of the duty of this new convert was to carry the knowledge of Christ back to the people among whom he had been living. He had found something which they needed, and which would bless them as it had blessed him.

We learn that a new-born Christian is not to give up his work. Of course, if he is engaged in any sinful occupation he must give it up. But if his occupation is right, he is usually to stick to it, and carry Christ with him into it. A carpenter when converted, is to continue a carpenter—with Christ.

To be a Christian, makes one happy. This man went on his way rejoicing. His heart was full of song. The Christian goes on in his work day by day; but while he works his heart sings, and the songs make the way shorter and the burdens lighter for him, while at the same time they give cheer to others on whose ears they fall.

December 20.

"The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life!" Revelation 22:17

A great novelist tells of a child that had run away from her home. Every night when it grew dark, a candle was set in the window, to show to the lost one, if ever she crept back repentant, that love's place was kept for her within. The Bible seems to me like a great palace standing in the centre of a dark world. It has a thousand windows; and in everyone of them a bright light shines, to tell earth's lost ones of a home where they will find a welcome if they but come to its door.

December 21.

"He who is righteous—let him do righteousness still." Revelation 22:11

The life in the eternal world—will not be different from the life here. The same good things we have learned to do here—we shall continue to do there. Those who have learned here to do righteousness shall continue, in the other life, to do righteousness. We shall still obey God there, and do his will; only we shall be more obedient than we have been here, and shall do his will better—perfectly! We shall love God there with all our heart, and love each other as ourselves; our life there shall be a perfect brotherhood, and heaven shall be a perfect home. It will still be more blessed there to give than to receive. They will still be chief there, who shall serve. Love, joy, peace, long-suffering, meekness, gentleness, goodness, truth—will still be fruits of the Spirit there—as they are here.

Life in heaven will not be so strange to us as we think, if we have learned to do God's will in this world. The everlasting life begins the moment we believe on Christ. While we remain on this earthly sphere, it is hindered and hampered by the limitations of earth, but in all true Christian experiences there are intimations of what the full blessedness will be. When we reach heaven the life begun here will go on, only without hindrance, limitation, or imperfection, forever. We are taught to pray that the will of God may be done on earth—as it is in heaven. Thus we are to get ready here for heaven.

December 22.

"It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35

We shall have a happier Christmas for ourselves, if we have helped to make a little joy for some others. We give presents to our friends—and that is right; but if we would get the richest blessing from our giving, we must remember also some one who really needs our gift: feeding some hungry one, or sending clothing to one who is shivering in the cold. This is the giving that is more blessed than receiving.

December 23.

"Silver or gold I do not have—but what I have I give you." Acts 3:6

Someone once said, "It's very hard to know how to help people—when you can't send them blankets, or coal, or needed food." With many people this is very true. They know not how to help others, except in such ways. Yet the needs which these material things satisfy, are the smallest needs of human lives. There are better ways of helping: with sympathy, hope, cheer, courage, inspiration, comfort. These are the blessings which most people need, far more than they need blankets or coal or food.

So far as we know, Jesus gave no money. He did not have it to give. Yet there never was in this world another such dispenser of true charity as he was. He gave encouragement, instruction, love. He told people of higher things.

None of us are too poor to give help in the same way. We may not have silver and gold to bestow, but out of a warm heart we can give coins of love which will mean far more than money! We should always keep a gentle heart—and then we can be a blessing to many.

December 24.

"I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people!" Luke 2:10

If we are sitting in peace and joy, our hearts filled with sweet Christmas thoughts, we should remember those whose homes will be dark and sad tomorrow, when all over the land the bells will be ringing. Perhaps we can do little to give them comfort; but we can pray for them, and thus call down blessings upon them. For, after all, the best way to send blessings to people—is through God. He has thousands of messengers, and he can always send the blessings of his love, where we can send a kindly wish.

December 25.

"On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh." Matthew 2:11

They were not content merely to worship the King, showing him homage in word or in posture; but they also laid their gifts at his feet. It is not enough for us to sing our songs of praise to Christ, to bow before him in reverent worship, and to speak our heart's homage in words. We should bring our gifts too, the pledges of our love, to lay at his feet.

There is a great deal of mere sentimentality in the consecration of many people. It is sentiment only; and when there is call for gifts or sacrifices, or for real services—the sentiment instantly vanishes. People sing missionary hymns with great warmth, and when the collection-plate comes to them—they sing on but allow the plate to pass by. They make prayers that God would send labourers into his vineyard, but they do not themselves respond to God's call for laborers and errand-runners. We need to learn the lesson: that our singing and praying can never go beyond our living.

Not only did these magi bring gifts, but they brought rich and costly gifts; we should bring our best—our gold, incense, and myrrh—the alabaster box of our heart's deepest love, and the best of all our life and service. Too often we give Christ only what is left over after we have taken all we desire for self-indulgence, or for the promotion of our own ambitions. We should always let him have the best!

December 26.

"And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens." Mark 13:27

There is no danger that in the last day, that anyone will be overlooked or forgotten who has been a true follower of Christ. The obscurest Christian, hidden away in the lowliest or most neglected spot, will not be missed by the angels, when they come to gather in Christ's little ones. On nearly every battle-field where the slain are buried, there are graves marked by the sad word "Unknown." But if among these, there are those who belonged to Christ, the angels will not fail to find them and bring them.

A ship went down on the British coast, and all on board perished. None of the bodies of those who had been lost were found, except the little body of an infant that was washed ashore among the wreckage. The kindly people of the place who picked it up buried the body, and having no clew to its name, put on the little stone simply, "God knows." When the angels come they will know whose body it is, and will not overlook it.

There is only one thing about which we need to concern ourselves, that we are indeed of those who have accepted Christ and have been faithful to him in this life. It will not matter in that day whether we have been rich or poor, famous among men or unknown; the determining element will be, whether or not we have belonged to Christ.

December 27.

"That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me." John 17:21

The nearer we get to God, and the more of the spirit of Christ there is in us, the less will we, too, think of the things that divide, and the more of the things that bind us together. When we get home to heaven—we shall see how trivial were the things that divided us here, oft-times keeping us far apart, and what possibilities of fellowship we missed as we journeyed heavenward.

December 28.

"Returning the third time, he said to them, Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners!" Mark 14:41

We need to learn the importance of timeliness in duty. There are many things which if done today, will prove untold blessings—but which tomorrow, it will not be worth while to do. It is today the sick neighbour needs your visit, your help; tomorrow he may be well, or others shall have ministered to him, or he may be dead. It is today that the tempted one needs your cheer; tomorrow he may be defeated, lying in the dust of shame. Tomorrow is a fatal word; countless thousands of hopes have been wrecked on it.

December 29.

"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12

There are several ways of numbering our days. One way is merely to count them off as we tear off the daily leaves of our calendar. Each evening a man has one day less to live. But that is not true numbering. Another, way is merely to count the days into the aggregate of life. A man is one day older, but that is all. He is no better. He has left no worthy record on the day's page. The true numbering, is that which fills the days as they pass—with records of godly and beautiful living, and with lines of growth in character.

Just now we are looking back over the story of a closing year. What have we given the days to keep for us? What lessons of wisdom have we learned from them, as one by one they have passed? There is little good in worrying over the failures of the year—but we ought to learn from our past. He is the wise man, not who makes no mistakes—but who does not repeat his mistakes.

December 30.

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever!" Hebrews 13:8

We leave many things behind us, as we go on. We can never go back again over the closing year. We never go over any life-path a second time. We never pass a second time through any experience. We have infancy once, childhood once, youth once, manhood and womanhood once, old age once, and we die once. We are forever leaving things, places, conditions, and experiences behind us. But through all these, we have the same Christ, unchanged, unchanging.

The Christ of childhood and of youth remains the Christ of manhood and of old age. Whatever changes the years bring to us—we must ever keep our eyes on the living Christ. He will always be all we need. There will never be a path which he cannot find for us and show us. There will never be a dark valley which he cannot light up for us. There will never be a battle which he cannot fight for us. There will never be an experience through which he cannot safely take us. We are leaving the old year behind, but we are not leaving Christ in the dead year. We need not be afraid, therefore, to go forward, if we go with him. We have not passed this new way before, and it is all strange to our inexperience; but Christ knows and he will guide us, and all will be well—if we put our hand in his.

December 31.

"One thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on." Philippians 3:13-14

There is a proper use of past experiences. We should remember our past lost condition—to keep our hearts ever humble. We should remember the lessons learned from past experience so as to profit by our mistakes. The true science of living—is not to make no mistakes, which is impossible—but not to commit the same mistakes a second time.

We should remember past mercies and blessings. If we do, our past will shine down upon us like a sky full of stars. Such remembering of the past will keep the gratitude ever fresh in our heart, and the incense of praise ever burning on the altar. Such ahouse of memory becomes a refuge to which we may flee in trouble. When sorrows gather thickly; when trials come on like the waves of the sea; when the sun goes down and every star is quenched, and there seems nothing bright in all the present—then the memory of a past full of goodness, a past in which God never once failed us, becomes a holy refuge for us, a refuge gemmed and lighted by the lamps of other and brighter days. Thus there are right uses of the past.

But there is a sense in which we should altogether forget our past. It is unwise to live looking back. We should keep our eyes ever turned forward to new hopes, new attainments, new achievements!