OCTOBER

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.

October 1.

"My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When can I come and appear before God?" Psalm 42:2

One may have everything else—riches, honour, human friends, social rank, health, home joys—but if he has not God, all these things fail to make him truly and deeply happy. On the other hand, if we have God we are blessed, though we have nothing else.

A gentleman came home from business heavyhearted. Disaster had overtaken him. Throwing himself into a chair, he said, "Everything is gone. We are beggared. There is nothing left." His little child, seeing his distress and hearing his words, climbed up on his knee, and said, "Why, papa, you have mamma and me left." Yes; while such human love remained, was he not still rich? Still more, if everything else is taken, and God and his love remain, are we not rich?

October 2.

"Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains by itself. But if it dies, it produces a large crop." John 12:24

Jesus was a very wise teacher. He did not use fine illustrations which the common people would not understand—but took those whose meaning would be plain to them. He pointed to the lilies, to the birds, to leaves, to vines, to the hen and her chicks, and other familiar things.

The illustration here from nature is very simple. The farmer who would keep his wheat in the dry, safe granary, because if it were sown in the field—it would rot and die, would make a very foolish mistake. The only proper thing to do with the grain which the farmer wishes to preserve and take care of in the best way, is to sow it in the ground. True, that seems to be wasting it, losing it, throwing it away. But it is thus it is made to increase. It has to die—to live. This is the law of life.

Our Lord meant here that the only way for him to be glorified—was by giving his life. He could have saved himself from his cross; his sacrifice was voluntary. But suppose he had saved himself—what would have been the result? He would have missed the suffering; but souls would not have been saved, no church would now be praising his name. But in dying, he made blessing for the world. From the one precious seed let fall into the ground on Calvary, has sprung a glorious harvest, whose full fruit-age will not be known until all the redeemed are gathered home!

October 3.

"The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life." John 6:63

God's own life is in the words of Scripture. Put a handful of flower-seeds in your window-box, under the sunshine, and they will soon become lovely flowers. Put the truths of the gospel into a human heart, and soon the life will begin to grow into the beauty of Christ. Its effects will be seen in the disposition, in the character, in the conduct, in all the daily acts.

At an auction, a crude jar of common earthenware was bought by a seller of perfumes for a penny. But he filled it with attar of roses, and soon every particle of the substance of the jar had partaken of the sweetness. The fragrance within it had permeated it. Long, long afterwards, when emptied and broken, every smallest fragment was still sweet with the precious perfume.

So it is, when even the most common life is filled with the Word of Christ. It flows out, as it were, in the character, in the feelings and affections, in the thoughts and desires, in the tempers and dispositions, until the whole being is permeated, filled with the spirit of Christ. For where the Word of Christ dwells—the Holy Spirit dwells; and where the Holy Spirit dwells—is the kingdom of heaven, heaven begun in a human life. We see the effects of this indwelling—in the gentleness, the sweetness, the purity of heart, the truth, the patience, the love, which the Word of Christ always produces.

October 4.

"I came that they may have life—and may have it abundantly!" John 10:10

To have abundant life, we must use the life we have. If the child would have his puny arm grow into strength—he must exercise it. The smith wields his hammer—and his muscles become like bands of iron. If you would have your brain develop into mental strength—you must use it. It is so of every faculty and function of the life. If you would have your power of sympathy grow, until you are able to be a true helper and comforter of others—you must find expression for your sympathy. If you would become a true helper—begin in little ways. Every outgoing of love in true service—makes our love itself more abundant.

Begin with the little life you have, accept every opportunity to use it—and by and by you will reach a capacity for helpfulness and service which will amaze you. But sit down and do nothing, put forth no effort, and your little life will dry up and shrivel to a crisp. "If the stars did not move," said Horace Bushnell, "they might rot in the sky!" The curse on thousands of Christian lives, is inactivity. Do not use your hand, and it will wither to death. The same is true of all physical, mental, and moral powers; unused they will die. If you would have abundant life, use every particle of the life you have, and it will develop until it reaches fullness of power.

October 5.

"Then a Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt deep pity." Luke 10:33

"O Lord, advertise your love through us!" was the prayer of an earnest Christian. A young Christian, when asked if she loved Jesus, was moved to tears, saying in her heart, "What a dim light mine must be, if others are not sure that I love Jesus!" A Christian writer has recently said, that the deadliest heresy is to be unloving.

God advertised his love through the good Samaritan. Others needed not to ask him if he loved God. He was not guilty of the deadly heresy of being unloving. He had true compassion. He was not content merely to say a few pitying words. His sympathy took the practical form of doing something. He bound up the man's wounds—that was help of the best kind. He stopped the bleeding away of the sufferer's life. He rested not until he had him safe in a warm shelter.

He did not even content himself with getting the man into an inn, then throwing off further responsibility. He might have said, "I have done my share; let some other one look after him now." But he was in no hurry to get the case off his hands. He took care of the man for a time, and then provided for the continuation of the care as long as it would be needed. The good Samaritan is Christ's own picture of what Christian love should be in everyone of his disciples.

October 6.

"Jesus wept." John 11:35

This is the shortest verse in all the Bible—but it is rich in meaning. It is a great window in Christ's bosom, showing us his very heart. It tells us that our Savior, though so glorious, is touched by our griefs. He is the same now in heaven, that he was that day when Mary lay at his feet and he wept with her. He is with us in all our sorrows, and sympathizes with us. This alone is a wonderful comfort to those who are in trouble.

A little child visited a neighbour who had lost her baby, and came home and told her mother that she had been comforting the sorrowing woman. Her mother asked her how she had done it, and she said, "I cried with her." It does us good when we are in trouble, to know that some other one sympathizes with us. It brings us a sense of companionship in our loneliness. It puts another shoulder under our load. But when it is Jesus who cares and is touched, weeps with us, comes up beside us in gentle companionship, it is wondrous comfort indeed.

October 7.

"Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong." Acts 3:7

A lady was asked for her ideal of happiness, and gave this answer: "My ideal of happiness, is the helping of somebody up." This has the ring of that word of the Master's, in which he said he came, "not to be ministered unto—but to minister." At first thought, most people would look for their ideal of happiness in some possible good or favour to be received by themselves. But this lady was right. There is more real happiness in helping somebody up—than in the receiving of the largest benefits for ourselves. This glimpse of ideal happiness shows how near the desired blessing lies all the while, to everyone of us. There is not a day nor an hour, when we cannot be helping somebody up.

October 8.

"Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15

Strange as it may seem, it is easier to weep with those who weep; than it is to rejoice with those who rejoice. There is something in sorrow that makes its resistless appeal to every heart, touching it with tenderness, and calling out sympathetic expressions. Suffering in another, disarms all unkindly feeling, and bids a truce, for the time at least, to all bitterness, jealousy, and resentment. We weep even with our enemy, whom we find in pain or sorrow. No one is ever envious of another's grief.

But when we see others rejoicing, it is not so according to nature to rejoice with them. The mood of gladness is not so sure to findsympathetic chords in the hearts of others. There are those who are envious of the happiness of others—and are made even more miserable by their joy! This surely is a most undivine spirit, and yet none can deny its existence in many hearts.

Gladness in others makes no such appeal to a heart, as sorrow does. It does not need help. Yet we should mark well the lesson that it is as much our duty to rejoice with those who rejoice—as it is to weep with those who weep. It is a close test of character, this being able to be glad because our friend is prosperous, even though at the time we do not have prosperity ourselves. It shows a wholesome spiritual condition.

October 9.

"Affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character." Romans 5:3-4

At first we would say that a home into which no sorrow had ever come, is the happiest home. It has had only prosperity. It is a Christian home, too, and has all the blessings of true religion. It is a home of love, ideal in its fellowship. But it has never known a sorrow. The circle is unbroken. No tears have been shed in it. We would say that this is the happiest home we know.

But it takes sorrow to perfect 'love's happiness'. There is little doubt that the sweetest home, is one in which there has been grief. We do not find the richest things in the Bible, until we pass into shadows. We do not see the stars, until night comes. There is no rainbow, except when there are clouds. We do not find out the richest love, even of our human friends, while we are strong and well and prosperous; it is only when we are in some grief or trouble, that we discover how much they love us. And we do not get the best of God's grace—until we are in sorrow.

Besides, grief softens our hearts, makes us capable of deeper affection and sympathy, and draws us nearer to each other. After a household has stood together around the coffin of one of its own—it is a new tenderness that unites the members. Suffering together, brings a new closeness in loving. Thus, even sorrow may be put among the elements of home happiness.

October 10.

"I have had God's help to this very day!" Acts 26:22

It had been through nearly twenty-five years of hard, toilsome life, that the heroic old apostle had stood, never giving up, never faltering in his confession. But he takes no praise to himself. The help came from God.

Many young people are afraid to set out on a Christian life, fearing they will not be able to be true to the end. Here is the word for all such; they will obtain help from God—for every duty, for every struggle, for every sorrow, which they must endure. They need only to be faithful day by day, doing the day's duty, and trusting God for grace. The help will come silently, just as it is needed, always sufficient grace—so that they will ever be able to stand.

God never puts a burden upon us—without giving us the strength to carry it. The way to obtain help from him, is to go promptly forward in the way of duty, asking for the help, and sure of getting it. It will not come if we wait to get it before we set out to obey. It will come only as we do God's will moment by moment.

"But He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you!" 2 Corinthians 12:9

October 11.

"That you may be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ" Philippians 1:10

Sincere means 'without wax'. Many people in Rome's palmy days, lived in fine marble palaces. Sometimes a dishonest workman, when there was a piece chipped off a stone, would fill in the chink with a kind of cement called wax, an imitation of marble. For a time the deception would not be discovered—but after a while the wax would become discoloured, thus revealing the defect. It became necessary to put in contracts, a clause stating that the work should be 'sine cera', without wax. This is the origin of the word sincere. It means that the life thus described, is true through and through. It makes no pretensions. It has nothing to hide.

Insincerity in any form mars the beauty of life. Unreal professions of friendship are to be guarded against. So are over-statements of religious experience. We remember in what scathing words our Lord denounced hypocrisy. This was the only sin of which he did not speak with pity and compassion. So in many parts of the Scripture we are cautioned against insincerity. We are to have sincerefaith. We are to have sincere love of the brethren. We are to love without hypocrisy. Few things do more harm to the cause of Christ, than insincerity in those who profess to be his friends. Sincerity gives influence and power to life.

October 12.

"Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name!" Psalm 103:1

Every part of our being should join in praising God. The song of praise we sing, should not be a solo, or a duet—but a full chorus the feelings, affections, mental powers, tastes, desires—all mingling in praise.

There are some who praise with their voice—but not with their heart. Others give intellectual worship, while their affections are not engaged. Others give emotional praise—but their will and conscience do not join heartily in the song; they have good feelings—but lack in practical obedience. Some sing missionary hymns with zest—but give nothing to missionary work! Or they singconsecration hymns—but then live for themselves! The true way to praise God—is to rouse every faculty, energy, power, and affection—to hearty, enthusiastic, practical praise, all that is within us, joining in glad and holy songfulness!

October 13.

"Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust." Psalm 40:4

This is not what the world says. It calls the man blessed, or happy—who gets on in business, who prospers and grows rich, or who rises to power. It is along the paths to these places of distinction, that the world throngs. There is no scramble for the honors ofsainthood. Not many people envy the heroes of Christian faith. Yet as the angels see this world, its highest seats are filled by God's believing ones. If we study the beatitudes, we shall learn who are really "blessed." If we trace the word "blessed " through the Bible—we see who come within the radiant circle.

The man who makes the Lord his trust is blessed. Why? He has been lifted out of the horrible pit. His feet are on a rock which cannot be shaken. He has a joy which nothing ever can break. His trust is one which no storm or flood, no financial panic, no bank failure, no defalcation, no fire, no political defeat—can ever disturb.

Is it not worth while, to have such a secure blessedness? No other trust is absolutely safe, even in this life. Then what about the day of death, and the judgment that comes after, and the eternity? We cannot leave out these stupendous events, when estimating what is best. It is not hard to prove that none are really blessed, except those whose trust is stayed on God. The question, however, is, Where is your trust? Are you among the blessed?

October 14.

"A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold." Proverbs 22:1

We cannot be too careful of our good name. Many things, perhaps not morally wrong in themselves, when seen by other and uncharitable eyes; may yet be construed to mean wrong-doing, and may thus hurt one's good name. There is need, too, of the most delicate moral sense in the regulation of conduct, and the most careful interpretation of duty, lest there be a lowering of tone which shall permit of acts not in accord with the perfect law of right. We cannot hold ourselves too strictly to "whatever things are true, whatever things are of good report." A name once tarnished, never can be made altogether bright again.

"The fleece that had been by the dyer stained,
Never again its native whiteness gained."

October 15.

"If you turn to my reproof—then I will pour out my spirit on you and teach you my words." Proverbs 1:23

After repenting, comes new divine anointing. The Holy Spirit will not enter or stay in a heart that is cherishing sin. But when we turn away from the wrong things—the Spirit will come and live in us.

There is a great deal in the Bible about the conditions on which divine things are revealed. "The secret of the Lord is with those who fear him." These words promise a very sweet confiding—even God tells the secret things of his heart to his children. The condition is, "with those who fear him," that is, reverence, honour, love, and obey him. We have an illustration of this, in God's dealing with Abraham. "The Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that which I do? " Abraham was the "friend of God," and the secret of the Lord was confided to him.

In, our Lord's parting words to his disciples, we have the same truth: "No longer do I call you servants: for the servant knows not what his Lord does; but I have called you friends; for all things that I heard from my Father I have made known unto you."

Again we have the condition of this confidence: "You are my friends—IF you do the things which I command you." If we would know divine things—we must submit ourselves to divine guidance.

October 16.

"What do you see?" Zechariah 4:2

The world is full of lovely things which only a few people can see.

Many people have eyes—yet see nothing lovely in all the splendours of earth, or sky, or sea. Well would it be, if an angel walked by the side of everyone, saying continually, at every turn, "What do you see?" The world is full of visions of loveliness, for everyone who can see.

Then in the Bible, too, there are wonderful things on every page. Here, again, we should train ourselves to ask, as our eyes fall on verse after verse, "What do you see?" If we had this habit well formed, we would be ever coming upon new things. Visions of divine loveliness would rise up continually before us, with their heavenly teachings, and their inspirations toward loftier, holier, nobler life!

October 17.

"There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off." Proverbs 23:18

What you see of the brilliance, the delight, and the pleasure of sin—is only a cheat. Wait until the end comes. "Sin, when it is finished, brings forth death!" For a while, a wicked man may seem to prosper in his sin; but there is a hereafter, and sin will surely bring its harvest of curse and punishment at last! Indeed, if we could see all, we would find that even day by day, the fruits of a good life are far sweeter than those of sin. No godly young man would envy his mirthful neighbour, if he could follow him from his dissipation and revelling—and see the sickening sequel.

"Sorrow follows wrong,
As echo follows song."

The peace which comes to the heart of him who lives after God's laws, is a thousand times better than the remorse which is the portion of the sinner. There would be no envy if a Christian young man could, set the two lives side by side, and see them in fair, honest light.

One young man was placed in unfortunate circumstances. Nearly all the young men he knew drank alcohol. Would he go with them? He took a philosophical look at the older men about him, and saw what drink had done for those who had formed the drinking habit in their youth. Then he looked at the men who had refused to learn to drink. He made his choice. "There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off."

October 18.

"How foolish are those who manufacture idols to be their gods. Their delectable things shall not profit." Isaiah 44:9

"Delectable things," are the things in which they took delight, that is, their idols. They bestowed honour upon them, prayed to them, looked to them as gods. But these delectable things could do nothing for them.

We have it all in the old psalm: "For our God is in the heavens, and he does as he wishes. Their idols are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They cannot talk, though they have mouths, or see, though they have eyes! They cannot hear with their ears, or smell with their noses, or feel with their hands, or walk with their feet, or utter sounds with their throats! And those who make them are just like them, as are all who trust in them." Psalm 115:3-8

These idols could give no comfort in sorrow, no strength in weakness, no deliverance in danger. Suppose you were an idol-worshipper, and had in your house a beautiful 'god of gold'. Then suppose there was death in your family, or some other trouble, in which you needed help that no human friend could give you; what could your idol do for you?

No better than these idols, are other worldly trusts which men have, their money, for instance. Suppose there is sorrow in a home of wealth, filled with works of art and with fine furniture, and without Christ; what comfort can these 'delectable things' give?

October 19.

"Today also my complaint is bitter. His hand is heavy despite my groaning." Job 23:2

Job does not mean that he was rebellious—but that even with his submission to the divine will, he could hardly keep his pain from breaking out in cries. If we are God's children, we should bear even the greatest sufferings without complaining. It may not always be possible to repress the outcries of anguish; but even if our affliction is too full of pain to be altogether repressed, we should not have in our heart, any rebellious feeling toward God.

An English writer tells of two birds, and how they acted when put into a cage. One bird flew violently against the wires of its prison, in unavailing efforts to escape, only bruising its own wings in the struggle. The other bird perched itself on the bar, and began to pour forth from its little throat, bursts of sweet song. We know well which bird was the wiser, which had learned the best way to meet hard conditions.

Some people are like the foolish bird—when they are in trouble they chafe, cry out, and complain. The result is, they only hurt themselves, make themselves more miserable, and do not in any sense lessen their trouble. It is wiser always, as well as more pleasing to God—for us to bear our trials patiently, singing songs of faith—rather than complaining in rebellion and discontent. Thus we take the bitterness out of trial, making it sweet.

October 20.

"How priceless is Your unfailing love! Men find refuge under the shadow of Your wings!" Psalm 36:7

"He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge." Psalm 91:4

'Under His wings' is a blessed shelter into which to flee—when the world is cold. It is a warm place into which to creep—when the heart is smitten with sorrows. It is when we are troubled—that we find these wings the softest. We call sorrow a shadow, and we talk about the shadow falling upon us and deepening, until sometimes all the light is obscured. Have you ever thought that it is the shadow of God's wings, which makes this darkness? It does not seem love's shadow; it seems unkindness. But really it is love. God is never so close to us—as when we are in deepest sorrow.

As feeble babes that suffer,
Toss and cry and will not rest,
Are the ones the tender mother
Holds the closest, loves the best.

So when we are weak and wretched,
By our sins weighed down, distressed,
Then it is that God's great patience
Holds us closest, loves us best.

October 21.

"Let another praise you—and not your own mouth; someone else—and not your own lips." Proverbs 27:2

We would better not talk about ourselves. People do not want to hear about you—from your own lips. Even though your good deeds, your greatness, or your fine attainments do not become known—what does it matter? God knows about them—and that is enough!

One says wisely, "Think as little as possible about any good in yourself; turn your eyes resolutely from any view of your acquirements, your influence, your plans, your success; above all, speak as little as possible about yourself. The inordinateness of our self-love makes speech about ourselves, very foolish. Nothing but duty should open our lips upon this dangerous theme, except it be in humble confession of our sinfulness before God."

October 22.

"If you see oppression of the poor and perversion of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be astonished." Ecclesiastes 5:8

It is a comfort in a world where so many things continually go wrong, to know that God regards His people, and that He will surely in some way bring justice out of injustice, good out of wrong. He is always on the side of the oppressed, of the weak, of those whom the strong would crush.

We naturally pity any person whom we see treated unfairly by others. Our hearts cry out against the injustice—and yet we may be powerless to do anything to set it right. Our comfort, however, is that God sees all this wrong, and not only sees—but cares, and in His own time and way—He will vindicate the cause of those who are made the victims of the cruelty of the strong. We may safely leave the adjustment of the equities, in His hands. The vindication may not come in this world—but the end of events is not here.

The Queen of France once said to her bitter enemy, Cardinal Richelieu, "There is one fact that you seem to have entirely forgotten: God is a sure paymaster. He may not pay at the end of every week or month or year—but I charge you to remember, that He pays in the end!"

One of the strongest arguments for a future life is in this fact: that in the present world, full justice cannot always be had. It takes an after-life, to right earth's wrongs. But we may be sure that they will all be righted in the end!

October 23.

"The people grew discouraged because of the way." Numbers 21:4

There are a great many discouraged people in the world. They have lost heart, and when one has lost heart, life is very hard; the wheels roll heavily.

No doubt there are things in everyone's path, that are discouraging. There are hardships to endure. There are disappointments to suffer. We come up to the very edge of brilliant expectations, when suddenly our path is turned away! There are hostile enemies, too, besetting all the way. No wonder we are discouraged sometimes—if we look no higher than the road at our feet.

Some of the reasons why a Christian should not be discouraged by any hardness in the way are, because it is God's way, and He leads; and because the way leads to heaven; and we should be willing to endure any hardships to reach such blessedness as there waits for us!

October 24.

"Even if my father and mother abandon me—the Lord will hold me close!" Psalm 27:10

We all know how much our father and mother love us. It seems to us there never could be a stronger love than theirs. No matter how wickedly a son may act, the love in his father's and mother's heart, still continues tender and faithful. Though all the world turn him out-of-doors, the 'home door' still stands open for him.

But this verse tells us that even if parental love is worn out, and parental patience exhausted, and the home door shut in one's face—there is still a place in God's heart and home for the outcast! This is the verse for the man or the woman who has gone down to the lowest depths of shame, until even his mother—if this is possible—has given him up and shut him out of her heart!

God's love outlasts human love.

This is also the orphan's verse. When God removes father and mother, He Himself takes up the child in special love and care. Very desolate is the world, when both father and mother are gone. Life is never the same again. There is no place to go with the heart's hunger, and with the burden that is too heavy. Yet God remains, and in the loss of the human, there are first revealed, oft-times, the warmth, tenderness, faithfulness, and help of the divine love.

Cast all your care on God—that anchor holds!

October 25.

"Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care . . . Even angels long to look into these things!" 1 Peter 1:10-12

Both earth and heaven are intensely interested in the great redeeming work of Christ. There are wise men who are so busy in their researches into little earthly matters, that they cannot get time to study the things of the spiritual kingdom of God. But nothing in this world so merits the thought, study, and research of the wisest beings in the universe—as Christ's work of redemption.

The interest of the angels in Christ's suffering as the Redeemer, is very beautiful. There is a picture by Domenichino which represents the scene on Calvary, after the Saviour's body had been taken down and laid in the grave. The cross is empty. An angel stands beside the crown of thorns which lies there, feeling with the tip of his finger, one of its sharp points. His face wears a look of wonder. He is trying to find out the meaning of suffering—but he cannot understand it nor fathom its depth.

The artist's thought is, that to this angel the sufferings of Christ were a great mystery which he was trying to comprehend. The same thought is suggested in the words, "even angels long to look into these things!" Surely it is worth while to give thought and attention to the wonderful things of Christ's redemption, since even the angels find in them mystery worthy of their deepest study.

October 26.

"Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful." John 14:27

Two artists went out to paint a picture of peace. One painted a silvery lake em-bosomed deep amid the hills, where no storm could ever touch it—calm, sweet, quiet in its shelter. The other painted a wild sea, swept by tempests, strewn with wrecks—but rising out of the sea a great rock, and in the rock, high up, a cleft, with herbage and flowers amid which, on her nest, a dove was sitting. The latter is the true picture of Christian peace.

Anybody can be confident—when there is nothing to disturb, no danger, no storm. Anybody can be happy—when there is no trouble, nothing to hurt or vex. Anybody can be patient—when there is nothing to make one impatient. Any little lake can be smooth and glassy—when there is no wind to ruffle it, or when it is hidden away within a wall of mountains. But we want a religion which will help us to have peace—when the sorest trials are upon us! How can we get this peace? Only by hiding in Christ!

October 27.

"I have learned to be content, whatever the circumstances." Philippians 4:11

Contentment depends upon the person—not upon his circumstances.

One is content, living in the poorest way—with bare necessaries and no luxuries, working hard and enduring many trials.

Another is discontented in a palace—with all the comforts, delicacies, and ease that money can provide.

The difference is in the hearts of the two people.

The former has in himself—all the resources of contentment, and is not affected by changes in his circumstances. The latter depends entirely upon his circumstances for his contentment, and therefore is affected by every vicissitude.

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in poverty." Philippians 4:12

October 28.

"He got up from the table, took off His robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then He began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel He had around Him." John 13:4-5

"What I am doing, you do not understand now—but afterwards you will understand." John 13:7

At this time Peter did not know why the Messiah he really needed—was a Messiah with basin and towel. He was thinking of a Messiah with throne and crown and sceptre and earthly pomp! He did not understand it—until after the blood of Calvary had been shed. Christ referred to these days by "afterwards."

This saying of Christ, however, may be used in a much wider sense. There are a great many things which He does, which at the time we cannot understand; yet in due time—all of them will become clear. As they appear to us, while we are passing through them, they are unfinished acts; when the work is completed—it will appear beautiful. This is especially true of many mysterious providences in our lives. One time Jacob thought and said, "All these things are against me!" But he lived to see that the very things which he thought were against him—were really all working together for his good.

So it is always, in the providences of God with His own people. "We know that all things work together for good, to those who love God."

The back side of a tapestry appears to be a mystery of tangle and confusion—but there is a beautiful picture on the other side. Just so—we are looking at our lives, largely on the back side. We cannot see the Master's plan—until 'afterwards'.

October 29.

"Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me! But He said to me—My grace is sufficient for you—for My power is made perfect in your weakness!" 2 Corinthians 12:8

Many prayers which seem to be unanswered—are really answered. The blessing comes—but in a form we do not recognize. Instead of the very thing we sought—something better is given!

The burden is not lifted away—but we are sustained beneath it.

We are not spared the suffering—but in the suffering we are brought nearer to God, and receive more of His grace.

The sorrow is not taken away—but is changed to joy.

Our ignorant prayers are taken into the hands of the great Intercessor, and are answered in ways far wiser than our thought!

Instead of earthly trifles—heavenly riches!

Instead of things which our poor wisdom sought—things God's infinite wisdom chose for us!

Instead of pleasure for a day—gain for eternity!

October 30.

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith—we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" Romans 5:1

PEACE is a favourite word with Paul. His life was full of suffering, care, toil, and trial; yet his epistles are starred all over with the bright word 'peace'.

He speaks of different kinds of peace. Here it is "peace with God." This means the consciousness of reconciliation with God. Sin separates us from God. While guilt is in the heart, there is no peace with God. We cannot look into God's face. But when we have repented of our sins, and have confessed them, and received God's forgiveness through Jesus Christ, we have peace with God.

Paul speaks elsewhere of "the peace of God." Writing from a prison, he exhorted his friends, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." This is a step farther than peace with God. It is the peace which holds the heart quiet and still—in the midst of whatever things are hard and trying in this world. It comes from resting in God's love, and leaving all tangled things in his hands. Christ promised the same peace when he said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give unto you."

Peace is named as one of the fruits of the Spirit. It comes, therefore, through having the Holy Spirit in our heart, and is not an earthly attainment.

October 31.

"May He incline our hearts toward Him—to walk in all His ways and to keep His commands, ordinances, and judgements." 1 Kings 8:58

We must be obedient and faithful—or else we forfeit the divine promises. We are "prone to wander" from God; our hearts are deceitful and incline to lead us away. Hence this prayer is a fit one to be always on our lips—that God may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, to keep his commandments.

We are charged to keep our heart with all diligence. The heart is the fountain of all motive and action, and therefore it must be under constant guard. We in our weakness, cannot keep it ourselves, and hence the need of divine keeping.

Fenelon's prayer was, "Lord take my heart—for I cannot give it to you; and when you have it, oh, keep it—for I cannot keep it for you; and save me in spite of myself, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen." This is a good daily prayer for any of us. God will never compel us to be obedient; but he will grant to us the grace of his Holy Spirit, if we ask for it, and will incline us, draw us, help us. We need, therefore, to pray continually to him—to throw over us the mystic influence of his Spirit that we may seek to walk in God's ways.