DAILY BIBLE THOUGHTS FOR THE MONTH. 187 Aug. 2.-Ch. x. 10. Christ laid down His life for the sheep, not only to save them from death, but that they might have life "more abun• dantly," 2 Pet. i. 10, 11. The aim which inspired St. Paul's life, Phil. ii. 10-14; and his longing desire for his converts, Eph. i. 16-23; iv. 13 ; Col. i. 9-12. This fulness of life is the result of union with Christ, Col. ii. 6-10. Therefore "Abide in Him." v. 37; Aug. 3. Ch. x. 27. It is through keeping His Words that Christ bides in us, Jo. xiv. 21, 23; xvii. 6-8; Jo. ii. 5. Contrast Jo. iv. 24. Let us say each morning Psa. lxxxv. 8; 1 Sam. iii. 9. Aug. 4.-Ch. xi. 2, 5. Individual knowledge, "I know thee by ame” (Ex. xxxiii. 17; Jo. x. 3). "I know where thou dwellest" (Rev. E. 13). "I know their sorrows (Ex. iii. 7; Job. xxiii. 10). Individual ove, "Who loved me" (Gal. ii. 20). Aug. 5. Ch. xi. 27. Let us turn with gladness to the spiritual side f Martha's character, often ignored, though equally recorded by inpiration-her devotion to the Master (v. 20)-her unsurpassed confesion of faith-her loving thoughtfulness for Mary (v. 28). Aug. 6. Ch. xi. 52. Christ the Centre. He is this even in the old reation, Col. i. 16, 17; Jo. i. 3; Heb. i. 3. His kingdom is the unierse, Dan. vii. 14; but it is as "lifted up" on the Cross, that He raws all men unto Himself, Jo. xii. 32; Heb. ii. 10; and nearness to [im means also nearness to each other, Eph. ii. 19; iv. 13-16. Aug. 7.-Ch. xii. 7. "The heritage of the servants of the Lord' sa. liv. 17). In His Presence harsh judgments are powerless to harm, sa. xxxi. 20. Christ Himself will vindicate your cause if you leave it ith Him, 1 Pet. ii. 28; Psa. xxxvii. 5, 6. Aug. 8.-Ch. xii. 26. "Follow Me." That means being with the ord-going His way. His path was one of (1) Service, Luke xxii. 5, 37, (2) Suffering, Heb. ii. 10. (3) Joy, Luke x. 21; Heb. xii. 2, nd it led to glory, Phil. ii. 6-11; Romans viii. 17, 18. "Wilt thou O with this Man?" Aug. 9.-Ch. xii. 43. God cannot reveal Himself art,” Jo. v. 44; Ja. i. 8; Lu. viii. 15; Jer. xxix. 13. earts, ye double-minded," Ja. iv. 8. to a "double "Purify your Then you are Loved at the Aug. 10.—Ch. xiii. 1. Are you a disciple of Christ? His own." "Set apart for Himself" (Psa. iv. 3). ginning, Deut. vii. 6, 8. Loved throughout life's journey, Isa. lxiii. 9. oved unto the end, Rev. i. 5, 6. Aug. 11.-Ch. xiii. 38. We have already had two instances in Jo. 188 DAILY BIBLE THOUGHTS FOR THE MONTH. xii. 6, 7, of Christ's perfect knowledge of hearts, Jo. iii. 25. He knows Peter far better than Peter knew himself. Are we glad that He so knows us? See how He uses this knowledge to justify, Mark xiv. 6-9; to plead, Lu. xxii. 31, 32; Heb. iv. 15, 16. Aug. 12. Ch. xiv. 7. The "Fatherhood of God." Let us ask to understand something of its preciousness. But remember it is only in and through Christ that we can learn to know the Father, Jo. i. 18 xiv. 6. In accepting the teaching of His life and of His words, the promises in v. 23 will be fulfilled to us. Aug. 13.-Ch. xiv. 27. The Saviour's legacy, purchased with His Blood, Col. i. 20. Are we inheriting it? See the command-Col. iii. 15. The means (1) give the Prince of peace the throne in your heart; (2) confide everything to Him, Phil. iv. 6, 7; (3) follow after holiness, Ph. iv. 8, 19. Aug. 14.-Ch. xv. 4. "Abide in Me." The source of fruitfulness, of joy, of glory (vv. 8-11). The condition of prevailing prayer (v. 7). We can only continue abiding in Christ by keeping His commandments, and pre-eminently the "new commandment," that great test of discipleship. Jo. xv. 10, 12; xiii. 34; and 1 Jo. iii. 14. Aug. 15.—Ch. xv. 13. The measure of Christ's love, Ep. v. 25-28. "Strong as death" (Cant. viii. 6), and, as "partakers of the Divine nature," where can our love stop short? 1 Jo. iv. 16; iii. 16-19. Aug. 16.-Ch. xvi. 13. "The Spirit of truth." (1) The Revealer, 1 Cor. ii. 11-13; (2) The Comforter, Acts x. 31; Jo. xiv. 18; (3) The Witness, Rom. viii. 16. If we are full of the Holy Ghost we shall be ministers of the Spirit to the Church and to the world (2 Cor. iii. 6 ; Jo. vii. 38); (1) 1 Jo. i. 2, 3; (2) 2 Cor. i. 4; (3) Jo. xv. 27. Aug. 17.—Ch. xvi. 33. "Overcome." All the promises in Revelation are "to him that overcometh." Expect the enemy; true courage does not make light of dangers, but goes forward in full faith, 1 Sam. xvii. 36, 45-47; 2 Ch. xiv. 11, 12; xx. 6-18, 27; Heb. xi. 33; 1 Jo. iv. 4, 5; and, following our Captain, the victory will be the Lord's. Aug. 18.-Ch. xvii. 4. The finished work,-the law magnified, God glorified (Isa. xlii. 21), Satan vanquished (Heb. ii. 14), the world redeemed (Jo. xix. 30), the kingdom of God initiated (Lu. xvii. 20, 21); the work which the Father gave Him to do. Notice the divine "must in connection with this subject, Lu, ii, 49; Jo. ix. 4. Let us follow in His steps, 2 Cor. vi. 1; 2 Tim. ii. 15; iv. 7. Aug. 19.-Ch. xviii. 11. "The cup which MY FATHER hath given DAILY BIBLE THOUGHTS FOR THE MONTH. 189 Me." Compare Jo. v. 30; vi. 39, the Father's will, Jo. viii. 28, the Father's words, Jo. xiv. 10, the Father's works. In Jo. vi. 57, we see the motive power for service and suffering both of our Lord's own life, and of that of each individual believer, Gal. ii. 20; Ph. i. 20, 21; iv. 13. Aug. 20.-Ch. xviii. "Consider Him" when your endurance is almost failing before indignities and reproaches (Heb. xii. 3). Patient suffering for well-doing is peculiarly "acceptable with God" (1 Pet. i. 19-23). He Who drunk the cup to the bitter dregs (Ps. lxix. 20) is able to succour you when tempted. Heb. iv. 14-16. Aug. 21.-Ch. xviii. 28. They were contemplating the foulest crime, and yet dreading mere outward defilement. Compare 1 Jo. ii. 11, with Jo. viii. 40, and see how we ourselves may fall into similar darkness if we allow "a root of bitterness to spring up in our hearts (Heb. xiii. 15). Aug. 22.-Ch. xix. 4. We learn from Jewish tradition that the animal, about to be sacrificed, was first subjected to the most searching inspection, that no blemish might pass unseen. So before the great Sacrifice was offered, of which all former ones were only types, the purity and spotlessness of the victim were fully demonstrated. i. 3; Matt. xxvi. 60; xxvii. 24; Heb. vii. 26, 27. Aug. 23. Ch. xix. 17. Long before in anticipation, that Cross had been laid on the Saviour of the world (Rev. xiii. 8). But notice the "steadfast" on-going of these last days (Isa. 1. 7). To Jerusalem (Luke ix. 51), Gethsemane (xviii. i.), to Golgotha. Aug. 24.-Ch. xix. 41. In a garden Paradise was lost (Gen. iii.). In a garden the agony was accomplished. In a garden the sacred Body was laid after the redemption price had been paid (Gal. iii. 13). And in a garden Paradise was regained (2 Tim. i. 10; Rev. xxi.; Isa. XXIV. 1, 2). Aug. 25.-Ch. xx. 14. How tenderly the Lord's restoration of woman is manifested! She was first in the transgression (1 Tim. ii. 14), yes, but also first to behold the risen Lord-first commissioned to carry the joyful tidings to the Church. Aug. 26. Ch. xx. 29. A greater trust, and, therefore, a greater honour. The disciples who saw were blessed indeed (Matt. xiii. 16), but the Spirit-quickening by which we draw near to our crucified and risen Lord is more divine, and therefore more blessed. 2 Cor. v. 16. Aug. 27. Ch. xxi. 6. Our Lord thus recalled to His disciples that scene of three years before when they left their nets to become "fishers 190 DAILY BIBLE THOUGHTS FOR THE MONTH. of men." We see (1) manifestation of power, the result of Christ's Presence and Word (Matt. xviii. 18-20); (2) the fishers' earthly needs provided for by Himself (Matt. vi. 31-34). : Aug. 28. Ch. xxi. 15. One question to be answered before the commission is given to " Feed My lambs," "Feed My sheep," 2 Cor. v. 13. Do you love Christ? If not, do not offer Him your service. And having loved, yet be continually renewing your love by living in His Presence, or He may say to you, Rev. ii. 2-5. Aug. 29.-Acts i. 11. Compare Heb. xiii. 8. He Who had compassion (Luke vii. 13): Who wept (John xi. 35): Who loved and cared for each of His disciples. It is no stranger, but "this same Jesus" for whom we look." "Even so, come, Lord Jesus." Aug. 30.-Acts i. 22. The Resurrection of our Lord is the central truth of the Gospel. It is the assurance (1) of the full, perfect and sufficient Sacrifice made on the cross; (2) of an ever-living Saviour interceding for us (Heb. vii. 25); (3) the pledge of our own resurrection and of life everlasting, John xiv. 19. Aug. 31.-Acts ii. 7. Compare 1 Cor. i. 27-29, and 2 Cor. iv. 7. Be sure that God can use you, whatever your weakness, if only you yield yourself to Him to be filled with the Spirit, 2 Cor. xii. 9. “CHRISTIAN PROGRESS” SCRIPTURE READING UNION. 1. Every MEMBER reads daily the same Chapter of the Old Testament and a short Evening Portion of the New. ASSOCIATES read only the New Testament Portion, any time during the day. 2. Persons of all ages and all denominations may join. All readers of LIVING WATERS are invited to join this Union, either as Members or Associates, and to ask their friends to do so. They should send their full names and addresses (stating whether Rev., Esq., Mr., Mrs., or Miss) to The Secretary, Christian Progress Union, 21, Exeter Hall, London, W.U. One stamp must be enclosed, and a card of Membership will be forwarded. OFFICE 21, Exeter Hall, Strand, London, W.C. OFFICE HOURS: 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, 9.30 a.m. to 1 p.m. We have received during the past month, up to July 10th, the names of 400 new Members and 309 Associates. We hope that all will work to add to our numbers, and write to the Secretary (address as above) for invitation papers to distribute amongst their friends. They will be sent to any address post free. Those who are going away for a holiday, either in England or abroad, should take a supply, as they will be able thus to introduce the Union to many whom they may meet who have never heard of it. SUBJECT FOR PRAYER FOR AUGUST. Our Members are earnestly invited to pray definitely for all missionaries in foreign lands, that the dew of the Holy Spirit may refresh them. in their separation from all outward privileges. |