July 11 “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect.” (Phil. 3:12) In yesterday’s study we saw that our conduct should correspond to our creed. But in order to balance the subject we must add two postscripts. First, we have to acknowledge that we will never fully and completely live out the…
July 10 “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” (John 13:17) Those who teach and preach the Christian faith should practice what they preach. They should present to the world a living example of the truth. The will of God is that the Word should become flesh in the lives…
July 9 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Rom. 10:13) No one can ever really call on the Name of the Lord without being saved. This call of desperate earnestness never goes unanswered. When we get to the end of our own resources, when we abandon all hope…
July 8 “…they made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept.” (Song of Solomon 1:6b) The brothers of the Shulamite maiden had sent her to work in the vineyard. She kept so busy tending the vines that she neglected her own vineyard, that is, her personal appearance. Her…
July 7 “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Rom. 8:18) Taken by themselves, the sufferings of this present time can be appalling. I think of the gruesome sufferings of the Christian martyrs. I think of what…
July 6 “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed until the day of redemption.” (Eph. 4:30) Just as it is possible for us to quench the Spirit in the meetings of the church, so it is possible for us to grieve Him in our private lives. There is a certain…
July 5 “Quench not the Spirit; despise not prophesyings.” (1 Th. 5:19, 20) We usually think of quenching in connection with a fire. We quench the fire when we throw water on it. In so doing, we either douse it completely or greatly reduce its scope and effectiveness. Fire is used in the Scriptures as…
July 4 “Wilt thou not revive us again that thy people may rejoice in thee.” (Psa. 85:6) A backslidden condition is often like cancer; we don’t know we have it. We can grow spiritually cold so gradually that we don’t realize how carnal we have actually become. Sometimes it takes a tragedy, a crisis or…
July 3 “Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” (Heb. 13:2) Hospitality is not only a sacred duty (Be not forgetful to entertain strangers); it carries within it the promise of glorious surprises (for thereby some have entertained angels unawares). It had started out as just another ordinary day…
July 2 “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful; and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41, 42) Mary sat quietly at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. Martha was flustered and upset in her service, and resented…