May 31

Ye shine as lights. (Philippians 2:15)

If we cannot be a lighthouse, let us be a tallow candle. In the old times, people used to come to the evening meetings, bringing their candles with them. The first one would not make a great illumination, but as more came there was more light.

Suppose all Christians to-day were burning with even a candlelight, would not God be more glorified? If we cannot be a lighthouse let us be a tallow candle. Or even a farthing rushlight! That is well enough if it is all you can be. Be all you can.

*Tallow: the fatty tissue of animals used by smearing to waterproof boats or wine barrels. Tallow candle: a candle with a wick dipped in fat. Rushlight: a small, feeble candle light.

www.Dictionary.com  —Copyright © 2006 Random House, Inc.  Unabridged (v 1.1) From Random House Unabridged Dictionary

May 30

O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? (Matthew 14:31)

Someone has said: “There are three ways to look. If you want to be wretched, look within; if you wish to be distracted, look around; but if you would have peace, look up.”

Peter looked away from Christ, and he immediately began to sink. He had God’s eternal word, which was sure footing, and better than either marble, granite or iron; but the moment he took his eyes of Christ down he went.

May 29

I will seek that which was lost. (Ezekiel 34:16)

I do not believe there is a man that the Spirit of God has not striven with at some period of his life. Bear in mind, Christ takes the place of the Seeker. Every man who has ever been saved through these six thousand years was sought after by God. No sooner did Adam fall, than God sought him. He had gone away frightened, and hid himself away among the bushes in the garden, but God sought him; and from that day to this, God has always had the place of the Seeker.

May 28

As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God (John 1:12)

By receiving Him you get power, and not otherwise. Many persons have tried to be Christians, and have failed. A man may as well try to jump to Europe, as to try to serve God before he is born of God. He has not the power. But when he receives Christ, Christ is the power of God unto salvation. We take Him: and He is our salvation.

May 27

Nor idolaters . . . shall inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

It is clear that idolaters are not going to enter the kingdom of God. I may make an idol of my business; I may make an idol of the wife of my bosom; I may make idols of my children. I do not think you need go to heathen countries to find men guilty of idolatry.

Anything that comes between me and God is an idol—anything, I don’t care what it is; business is all right in its place, and there is no danger of my loving my family too much if I love God more; but God must have the first place; and if He has not, then the idol is set up.

May 26

Not without blood. (Hebrews 9:7)

Look at the Roman soldier as he pushed his spear into the very heart of the God-man. What a hellish deed! But what was the next thing that took place? Blood covered the spear! Oh thank God, the blood covers sin. The very crowning act of sin brought out the crowning act of love; the crowning act of wickedness was the crowning act of grace.

May 25

The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)

You may pile up your sins till they rise likes dark mountain, and then multiply them by ten thousand for those you cannot think of: and after you have tried to enumerate all the sins you have ever committed, just let me bring this one verse in, and that mountain will melt away.

May 24

I have fought a good fight. (2 Timothy 4:7)

Rome never had such a conqueror as Paul within her walls. Rome never had such a mighty man as Paul within her boundaries. Although the world looked down upon him, and perhaps he looked very small and contemptible, yet in the sight of heaven he was the mightiest man who ever trod the streets of Rome. Probably there will never be another one like him traveling those streets. The Son of God walked with him, and the form of the fourth was with him.

May 23

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

If a man has not grace to keep his temper, he is not fit to work for God. If he cannot live uprightly at home, he is not fit for God’s service; and the less he does the better. But he can keep his temper, he can live uprightly at home, by the grace of God.

May 22

And I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place . . . and they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father's house, the offspring and the issue, all vessels of small quantity, from the vessels of cups, even to all the vessels of flagons. (Isaiah 22:23-24)

There is one nail, fastened in a sure place; and on it hang all the *flagons and all the cups.

“Oh,” says one little cup, “I am so small and so black, suppose I were to drop!”

“Oh,” says a flagon, “there is no fear of you; but I am so heavy, so very weighty, suppose I were to drop!”

And a little cup says,

“Oh, if I were only like the gold cup there, I should never fear falling.”

But the gold cup answers,

“It is not because I am a gold cup that I keep up; but because I hang upon the nail.”

*Flagon: a container for holding liquids, as for use at table, especially one with a handle, a spout, and usually a cover.

www.Dictionary.com  —Copyright © 2006 Random House, Inc.  Unabridged (v 1.1) From Random House Unabridged Dictionary

May 21

“Our Father” (Matthew 6:9)

If you ask me why God should love us, I cannot tell. I suppose it is because He is a true Father. It is His nature to love; just as it is the nature of the sun to shine.

May 20

“Now then, do it.” (2 Samuel 3:18)

I remember hearing of a man in one of the hospitals who received a bouquet of flowers from the Flower Mission. He looked at the beautiful bouquet and said: “Well, if I had known that a bunch of flowers could do a fellow so much good, I would have sent some myself when I was well.” If people only knew how they might cheer some lonely heart and lift up some drooping spirit, or speak some word that shall be lasting in its effects for all coming time, they would be up and about it.

May 19

“Which is the earnest of our inheritance.” (Ephesians 1:14)

A poor woman once told Rowland Hill that the way to heaven was short, easy and simple; comprising only three steps—out of self, into Christ, and into glory. We have a shorter way now—out of self and into Christ. That is heaven begun below—a little of what waits us over there.

May 18

“Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive.” (John 16:24)

It is related of Alexander that he gave one of his generals, who had pleased him, permission to draw on his treasurer for any sum. When the draft came in, the treasurer was scared, and would not pay it till he saw his master. And when the treasurer told him what he had done, Alexander said, “Don't you know that he has honored me and my kingdom by making a large draft.” So we honor God by making a large draft on Him.

May 17

“Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

Most people say “eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,” and they stop there. But see what the New Testament says, “God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit.” You see the Lord hath revealed them unto us: “For the Spirit searches all things—yea, the deep things of God.”

May 16

“There shall be no more death.” (Revelation 21:4)

Someone said to a person dying: “Well, you are in the land of the living yet.” “No,” said he, “I am in the land of the dying, but I am going to the land of the living; they live there and never die.” This is the land of sin and death and tears, but up yonder they never die. It is perpetual life; it is unceasing joy.