May

May 1

Thou art my God: early will I seek Thee. Psa. lxiii. 1.

In a world where there is so much to ruffle the spirit's plumes, how needful that entering into the secret of God's pavilion, which will alone bring it back to composure and peace! In a world where there is so much to sadden and depress, how blessed the communion with Him in whom is the one true source and fountain of all true gladness and abiding joy! In a world where so much is ever seeking to unhallow our spirits, to render them common and profane, how high the privilege of consecrating them anew in prayer to holiness and to God.—Archbishop Trench.

May 2

In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. John i. 4. Ye are the light of the world. Matt. v. 14.

In the light we can walk and work. We walk in the light and become entirely children of light. We let our light, the light of God, shine, so that men may see our good works, and glorify our Father in heaven. Gently, silently, lovingly, unceasingly, we give ourselves to transmit the light and the love God so unceasingly shines into us. Our one work is to wait, and admit, and then transmit the light of God in Christ.—Andrew Murray.

May 3

Be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. 1 Cor. xv. 58.

Activity in doing good is one recipe for being cheerful Christians; it is like exercise to the body, and it keeps the soul in health.—Bishop Ryle.

May 4

Looking up to heaven He sighed. Mark vii. 34.

Too often we sigh and look within; Jesus sighed and looked without. We sigh, and look down; Jesus sighed, and looked up. We sigh, and look to earth; Jesus sighed, and looked to heaven. We sigh, and look to man; Jesus sighed, and looked to God.—Stork.

May 5

We glory in tribulations. Rom. v. 3.

Have you ever thought that some day you will never have anything to try you or anybody to vex you again?—A. B. Simpson.

May 6

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. Col. iii. 2.

He who has his affections set on things above is like one who hangs on by the skies; and, having a secure hold of these, could say, though he saw the world roll away from beneath his feet, “My heart is fixed; my heart is fixed; O Lord, I will sing and give praise!”—Guthrie.

May 7

The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon. Luke xxiv. 34. They . . . gladly received (Peter's) word; and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. Acts ii. 41.

Before the Lord can use us in His service we must have close individual dealing with Himself. He always will have to do in secret with that soul that He intends to use in blessing others.

Do you want to speak for Jesus to those around you? Then you must go to Jesus Himself for your message. What you say for Jesus must be got from Jesus.

Oh, how much breath falls powerless on every side because it has not been inhaled in the sanctuary! We want more secret dealing with the living God. We run without being sent: we speak before God has spoken to us: no wonder we so often fail. Oh, what secret prayer and what heart-searching discipline the heart needs before God can use it!—F. Whitfield.

May 8

The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul. Prov. xiii. 25.

Christ must satisfy; then, if we are not satisfied, it must be because we are not feeding on Him wholly and only. The fault is not in the provision which is made.—Frances Ridley Havergal.

May 9

Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth. Heb. xii. 6.

It has been well said that “earthly cares are a heavenly discipline,” but they are even something better than discipline; they are God's chariots, sent to take the soul to its high places of triumph. In the Canticles we are told of “a chariot paved with love.” We cannot always see the love lining to our own particular chariot—it often looks very unlovely; but every chariot sent by God must necessarily be paved with love, since God is love. It is His love, indeed, that sends the chariot.

Look upon your chastenings, then, no matter how grievous they may be for the present, as God's chariots, sent to carry your souls into the “high places” of spiritual achievement and uplifting, and you will find that they are, after all, “paved with love.”—Smith.

May 10

The blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John i. 7.

Learn a lesson from the eye of the miner, who all day long is working amid the flying coal dust. When he emerges in the light of day his face may be grimy enough; but his eyes are clear and lustrous, because the fountain of tears in the lachrymal gland is ever pouring its gentle tides over the eye, cleansing away each speck of dust as soon as it alights.

Is not this the miracle of cleansing which our spirits need in such a world as this? And this is what our blessed Lord is prepared to do for us by His cleansing blood, if only we will trust Him.—F. B. Meyer.

May 11

Whatsoever He sayeth unto you, do it. John ii. 5.

Florence Nightingale said: “If I could give you information of my life, it would be to show how a woman of very ordinary ability has been led by God in strange and unaccustomed paths to do in His service what He has done in her. And if I could tell you all, you would see how God has done all, and I nothing. I have worked hard, very hard, that is all; and I have never refused God anything.”

May 12

I know how to abound. Phil. iv. 12.

It is a dangerous thing to be prosperous. The crucible of adversity is a less severe trial to the Christian than the refining-pot of prosperity. It needs more than human skill to carry the brimming cup of mortal joy with a steady hand; yet Paul had learned that skill, for he declares, “In all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry.” When we have much of God's providential mercies it often happens that we have but little of God's grace; satisfied with earth, we are content to do without heaven. Rest assured, it is harder to know how to be full than it is to know how to be hungry, so desperate is the tendency of human nature to pride and forgetfulness of God. Take care that you ask in your prayers that God would teach you “how to be full.”—Spurgeon.

May 13

Whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. Luke xiv. 11.

. . . If you ask the way to the crown—'tis by the cross; to the mountain—'tis by the valley; to exaltation 'tis he that humbleth himself.—J. H. Evans.

May 14

For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. John xvii. 19.

Do you remember, when Jesus was sitting with His disciples at the last supper, how He lifted up His voice and prayed, and in the midst of His prayer there came these wondrous words: “For their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified”? Is there anything in all the teachings that man has had from the lips of God that is nobler, that is more far-reaching than that—to be my best not simply for my own sake, but for the sake of the world? You can help your fellow-men—you must help your fellow-men; but the only way you can help them is by being the noblest and the best man that it is possible for you to be.—Phillips Brooks.

May 15

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city. Prov. xvi. 32.

More dear in the sight of God and His angels than any other conquest is the conquest of self, which each man, with the help of heaven, can secure for himself.—Dean Stanley.

May 16

For this child I prayed, and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of Him: therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord. 1 Sam. i. 27, 28.

God sometimes bestows gifts just that love may have something to renounce. The things that He puts into our hands are possibly put there that we may have the opportunity of showing what is in our heart. Oh, that there were in us a fervor of love that would lead us to examine everything that belongs to us, to ascertain how it might be made a means of showing our affection to Christ!—George Bowen.

May 17

Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Matt. vi. 33.

We need have only one care, that we put the first thing first—faithfulness to God. Then all else we need for both worlds will be supplied. God will never fail us; but we forget, sometimes, in our rejoicing over such an assurance, that we must fulfil our part if we would claim the divine promise.

It will not always be easy. To-morrow it may mean a distasteful task, a disagreeable duty, a costly sacrifice for one who does not seem worthy. Life is full of sore testings of our willingness to follow the Good Shepherd. We have not the slightest right to claim this assurance unless we have taken Christ as the guide of our life.—J. R. Miller.

May 18

His praise shall continually be in my mouth. Psa. xxxiv. 1.

Let not thy praises be transient—a fit of music, and then the instrument hung by the wall till another gaudy day of some remarkable providence makes thee take it down. God comes not guestwise to His saints' house, but to dwell with them. David took this up for a life work: “As long as I live, I will praise thee.”—Gurnall.

May 19

I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. Num. xi. 14.

It is most needful for all servants of Christ to remember that whenever the Lord places a man in a position of responsibility, He will both fit him for it and maintain him in it.

It is, of course, another thing altogether if a man will rush unsent into any field of work, or any post of difficulty or danger. In such a case we may assuredly look for a thorough breakdown, sooner or later. But when God calls a man to a certain position, He will endow him with the needed grace to occupy it.

This holds good in every case. We can never fail if we only cling to the living God. We can never run dry if we are drawing from the fountain. Our tiny springs will soon dry up; but our Lord Jesus Christ declares, “He that believeth in Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”—C. H. M.

May 20

Then said I, Woe is me, for I am undone: because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. Isa. vi. 5.

It is not the sight of our sinful heart that humbles us; it is a sight of Jesus Christ. I am undone because mine eyes have seen the King.—Andrew A. Bonar.

May 21

While I was musing the fire burned. Psa. xxxix. 3.

My soul, if thou wouldst muse more, the fire would burn more. Why dost thou not retire oftener with thyself? Thou wouldst be better fitted for the world if thou wert less worldly. If thou hadst more heavenly fire thou wouldst have more earthly power.

Is there no secret pavilion into which thou canst go and warm thyself? Is there no holy of holies where thou canst catch a glow of impulse that will make thee strong? Is it not written of the Son of Man that “as He prayed the fashion of His countenance was altered”? Yes; it was from His prayer that His transfigured glory came. It was from the glow of His heart that there issued the glow of His countenance. It was when He was musing that the fire kindled.

O my soul, wouldst thou have thy life glorified, beautified, transfigured to the eyes of men? Get thee up into the secret place of God's pavilion, where the fires of love are burning. Thy life shall shine gloriously to the dwellers on the plain. Thy prayers shall be luminous; they shall light thy face like the face of Moses when he wist not that it shone. Thy words shall be burning; they will kindle many a heart journeying on the road to Emmaus. Thy path shall be lambent; when thou hast prayed in Elijah's solitude thou shalt have Elijah's chariot of fire.—George Matheson.

May 22

Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in nowise lose his reward. Matt. x. 42.

We are in danger of looking too far for opportunities of doing good and communicating. In reaching for rhododendrons we trample down the daisies.—Selected.

May 23

Hide thyself by the brook. 1 Kings xvii. 3.

Not by the river, but by the brook. The river would always contain an abundant supply, but the brook might dry up at any moment.

What does this teach us? God does not place His people in luxuriance here. The world's abundance might withdraw their affections from Him. He gives them not the river, but the brook. The brook may be running to-day, to-morrow it may be dried up.

And wherefore does God act thus? To teach us that we are not to rest in His gifts and blessings, but in Himself. This is what our hearts are always doing—resting in the gift, instead of the Giver. Therefore God cannot trust us by the river, for it unconsciously takes up His place in the heart. It is said of Israel that when they were full they forgot God.—F. Whitfield.

May 24

His kingdom ruleth over all. Psa. ciii. 19.

His kingdom ruleth over all—therefore thou canst find nothing which is not matter for praise, since there is nothing which is not the matter of thy Lord's gracious permission, or planning, or control. Over all—nowhere canst thou step outside His realm, nor in anything get beyond His care and government. Over all—therefore take all as from God; hold all as from God; and by thy gratitude give all back to God again, and thus complete the circle, making Him the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the Ending of all things.—Mark Guy Pearse.

May 25

If we suffer we shall also reign with Him. 2 Tim. ii. 12.

The highest bidder for the crown of glory is the lowliest wearer of the cross of self-denial.—A. J. Gordon.

May 26

Keep thy heart with all diligence: for out of it are the issues of life. Prov. iv. 23.

He who would keep his heart pure and holy, must plant a sentinel at every avenue by which sin may find access there, guarding against none more than the “little” sins, as they are called.

The man of God has his eyes to keep, and so Job said, “I have made a covenant with mine eyes”—his tongue, and hence the exhortation, “Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile”—his ears, and hence the warning, “Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err”—his feet, and hence David says, “I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep Thy word.” And since there is no gate of the five senses by which the enemy may not come in like a flood, unless the Spirit lift up a standard against him, we have need to guard every port, and write over every portal, “Here there entereth nothing to hurt or to defile.”—Guthrie.

May 27

Whatsoever ye do, . . . do all in the name of the Lord Jesus. Col. iii. 17.

Do little things as if they were great, because of the majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ, who dwells in thee; and do great things as if they were little and easy, because of His omnipotence.—Pascal.

May 28

Him they compelled to bear His cross. Matt. xxvii. 32.

There are many Christians of whom this is true. They are compelled to bear the cross, but how does it come? It comes by their running away from it. They make up their minds they won't have Christ's cross; and they find when the cross does come that it comes in a more terrible form, with a more crushing weight than ever it would have come had they only been content to submit themselves to the divine direction; for the cross has to come to all who are to be prepared for glory hereafter.—W. Hay Aitken.

May 29

Our Lord Jesus Christ . . . gave Himself for our sins that He might deliver us from this present evil world. Gal. i. 4.

Attachment to Christ is the only secret of detachment from the world.—A. J. Gordon.

May 30

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Matt. v. 14.

Lamps do not talk, but they do shine. A lighthouse sounds no drum, it beats no gong; and yet far over the waters its friendly spark is seen by the mariner. So let your actions shine out your religion. Let the main sermon of your life be illustrated by all your conduct.—Spurgeon.

May 31

Without me ye can do nothing. John xv. 5. I can do all things, through Christ which strengtheneth me. Phil. iv. 13.

Apart from Him we can do nothing. Whilst we are abiding in Him nothing is impossible. The one purpose of our life should therefore be to remain in living and intense union with Christ, guarding against everything that would break it, employing every means of cementing and enlarging it. And just in proportion as we do so, we shall find His strength flowing into us for every possible emergency. We may not feel its presence; but we shall find it present whenever we begin to draw on it. There is no temptation which we cannot master; no privation which we cannot patiently bear; no difficulty with which we cannot cope; no work which we cannot perform; no confession or testimony which we cannot make, if only our souls are living in healthy union with Jesus Christ; for as our day or hour, so shall our strength be.—F. B. Meyer.