Daily Strength for Daily Needs Part 25

JEAN NICOLAS GROU.

May 16

_Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might_.--EPH. vi. 10.

_No man can serve two masters_.--MATT. vi. 24.

Oh, there are heavenly heights to reach In many a fearful place, Where the poor timid heir of G.o.d Lies blindly on his face; Lies languishing for grace divine That he shall never see Till he go forward at Thy sign, And trust himself to Thee.

A. L. WARING.

Reservations lie latent in the mind concerning some unhallowed sentiments or habits in the present, some possibly impending temptations in the future; and thus do we cheat ourselves of inward and outward joys together.

We give up many an indulgence for conscience' sake, but stop short at that point of entire faithfulness wherein conscience could reward us. If we would but give ourselves wholly to G.o.d,--give up, for the present and the future, every act, and, above all, every thought and every feeling, to be all purified to the uttermost, and rendered the best, n.o.blest, holiest we can conceive,--then would sacrifice bear with it a peace rendering itself, I truly believe, far easier than before.

F. P. COBBE.

May 17

_Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do_.--I THESS. v. 11.

_Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself_.--MATT. xix. 19.

So others shall Take patience, labor, to their heart and hand, From thy hand, and thy heart, and thy brave cheer, And G.o.d's grace fructify through thee to all.

The least flower with a br.i.m.m.i.n.g cup may stand, And share its dewdrop with another near.

E. B. BROWNING.

What is meant by our neighbor we cannot doubt; it is every one with whom we are brought into contact. First of all, he is literally our neighbor who is next to us in our own family and household; husband to wife, wife to husband, parent to child, brother to sister, master to servant, servant to master. Then it is he who is close to us in our own neighborhood, in our own town, in our own parish, in our own street. With these all true charity begins. To love and be kind to these is the very beginning of all true religion. But, besides these, as our Lord teaches, it is every one who is thrown across our path by the changes and chances of life; he or she, whosoever it be, whom we have any means of helping,--the unfortunate stranger whom we may meet in travelling, the deserted friend whom no one else cares to look after.

A. P. STANLEY.

May 18

_We know that we have pa.s.sed from death unto life, because we love the brethren_.--I JOHN iii. 14.

_He that loveth not knoweth not G.o.d; for G.o.d is love_.--I JOHN iv. 8.

Mutual love the token be, Lord, that we belong to Thee; Love, Thine image, love impart; Stamp it on our face and heart; Only love to us be given; Lord, we ask no other heaven.

C WESLEY.

Oh, how many times we can most of us remember when we would gladly have made any compromise with our consciences, would gladly have made the most costly sacrifices to G.o.d, if He would only have excused us from this duty of loving, of which our nature seemed utterly incapable. It is far easier to feel kindly, to act kindly, toward those with whom we are seldom brought into contact, whose tempers and prejudices do not rub against ours, whose interests do not clash with ours, than to keep up an habitual, steady, self-sacrificing love towards those whose weaknesses and faults are always forcing themselves upon us, and are stirring up our own. A man may pa.s.s good muster as a philanthropist who makes but a poor master to his servants, or father to his children.

F. D. MAURICE.

May 19

_Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him_.--PS. x.x.xvii. 7.

_Trust in Him at all times_.--PS. lxii. 8.

Dost thou ask when comes His hour?

Then, when it shall aid thee best.

Trust His faithfulness and power, Trust in Him, and quiet rest.

ANON.

I had found [communion with G.o.d] to consist, not only in the silencing of the outward man, but in the silencing also of every thought, and in the concentration of the soul and all its powers into a simple, quiet watching and waiting for the food which its heavenly Father might see fit either to give or to withhold. In no case could it be sent empty away; for, if comfort, light, or joy were withheld, the act of humble waiting at the gate of heavenly wisdom could not but work patience in it, and thus render it, by humility and obedience, more "meet to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light," and also more blessed in itself.

M. A. KELTY.

"REST IN THE LORD; WAIT PATIENTLY FOR HIM." In Hebrew, "be silent to G.o.d, and let Him mould thee." Keep still, and He will mould thee to the right shape.

MARTIN LUTHER.

May 20

_To be spiritually minded is life and peace_.--ROM. viii. 6.

Stilled now be every anxious care; See G.o.d's great goodness everywhere; Leave all to Him in perfect rest: He will do all things for the best.

FROM THE GERMAN.

We should all endeavor and labor for a calmer spirit, that we may the better serve G.o.d in praying to Him and praising Him; and serve one another in love, that we may be fitted to do and receive good; that we may make our pa.s.sage to heaven more easy and cheerful, without drooping and hanging the wing. So much as we are quiet and cheerful upon good ground, so much we live, and are, as it were, in heaven.

R. SIBBES.

Possess yourself as much as you possibly can in peace; not by any effort, but by letting all things fall to the ground which trouble or excite you.

This is no work, but is, as it were, a setting down a fluid to settle that has become turbid through agitation.

MADAME GUYON.