212 DAILY BIBLE THOUGHTS FOR THE MONTH. Sept. 9.-Ch. ix. 49, 50. "It is our part to present ourselves living sacrifices" (Rom. xii. 1; Ch. vi. 13). It is the part of our great High Priest, to provide, that the, "Salt of the covenant," be not lacking (Lev. ii. 13; Ezra vi. 9, 10; Ezra vii. 21, 22). If we trust, He will do it (Ezek. xliii. 24), and His yielded ones, shall bring Him glory, through the preserving power of His "Savour" (Col. iv. 6). Sept. 10.-Ch. x. 16. "His arms." The place of blessing, and of power. because of "separation" (Gen. xlix. 24-26; Deut. xxxiii. 16). Let Him, take us up in His arms, and let us "dwell between His shoulders," ," "covered all the day long" (Deut. xxxiii. 12; Is. xxviii. 12; Ch. xxx. 15). Sept. 11.-Ch. x. 21. The Master woos us, with word " come," (for the double "rest," of Matt. xi. "satisfying" of John vii. 37) before He bids us "take whispers, "Follow Me" (Luke ix. 59; John xxi. 22). indeed of My cup" (Matt. xx. 23). His own blessed 28, 29, and the up the cross," or "Ye shall drink Sept. 12.-Ch. x. 32. "They were in the way, going up." The Royal Way, and the King, went before them, yet they were "amazed," at the "humiliation," and "afraid," of the cross; though Resurrection light, and glory, streamed over both (verse 34). Is it not as we know," the power of His resurrection," (Phil. iii. 10) that we glory, in "the fellowship of His sufferings"? Sept. 13th.-Ch. x. 52. "Go thy way." To obey was impossible, because from that hour, his way, was no more "his own." His "opened eyes had "seen Jesus," and his willing feet, must henceforth, follow Him "whithersoever He went" (Luke ix. 57; 2 Sam. xv. 21; Luke xxii. 33). Sept. 14. Ch. xi. 12. The Master "hungers" still, though the fields are white unto harvest. Hungers for the unsaved (Ezek. xxxiii. 11; Ch. xxxiv. 16; John iv. 34; John. vi. 38-40; Luke xix. 41-42). For the sanctifying of the saved, that His Father might be glorified in His "cleansed " temples (John ii. 13-17; 1 Cor. iii. 16, 17) Sept. 15.- Ch. xi. 20, 21. And the hunger, "unsatisfied," resulted in the fig tree's withering away. The roots, that are not spread out, by the river of life (Jer. xvii. 8) must " dry up" and the tree can yield no fruit. "The trees of the Lord's planting (Matt. xv. 13; John xv. 1), by the rivers of water" (Ps. i. 3), shall be fruitful (Ezek. xix. 10), not careful, even, in the year of drought (Jer. xvii. 8). Sept. 16.-Ch. xii. 6. They "reverenced Him not " (Is. liii. 3). But the Father's great love would not be baffled, His eternal purpose could not be frustrated. He should become the Head of the corner, and the living stones should be drawn by the Spirit to "rest" on Him, but only through the fulfilment of verse 8 (Rom. viii. 32). "For the suffering of death, crowned." : Sept. 17.-Ch. xii. 23-27. He meets their difficulty, by an appeal to Scripture throws them back on Revelation-brings out so wonderfully the power of the Old Testament-"Search the Scriptures." See our responsibility, with the light of the New Testament, enkindling the Old, DAILY BIBLE THOUGHTS FOR THE MONTH. 213 and the Illuminator Himself, "burning," within (John vi. 39; Is. viii. 20; Is. xxxiv. 16). Sept. 18.--Ch. xii. 44. "All that she had." And the love-flash was so fair to the Master, that He called His disciples, to rejoice in its beauty with Him. Shall we give, with Love's utter abandonment, our very "self" to Him, and realise that the "poverty," of the giver, adds wondrous lustre to the gift, wondrous gladness, to the blessed Receiver? (2 Cor. viii. 5, 12; 2 Cor. ix. 7). "Not ye Sept. 19.-Ch. xiii. 11. but the Holy Ghost." Are we willing to let "Him go free"? Willing that His life, should be lived out, unhindered, through us, using our very members as His own? (Rom. vi. 13, 19). Not I, but Christ in me? Then, He has said, "Even so!" "according to your faith" (Matt. ix. 29). Sept. 20.-Ch. xiii. 34. "To every man, his work." He gives according to the several ability. Our part is only to say, "Lord, what wouldst Thou have me to do?" Ready even for the possible answer: "I will show him, how great things he must suffer, for My Name's sake" (Acts ix. 16; Phil. i. 29). Sept. 21.-Ch. xiv. 15. "There make ready for us." How wondrous the fellowship, how intensely close the union. "No more twain." And the Royal command, precedes every step of the journey henceforth, right on to the glory. Faith, may well respond, triumphantly to Love's challenge, Lack ye anything?" "We have all things and abound" (1 Cor. iii. 21-23; Rom. viii. 32; Phil. iv. 19). 66 Sept. 22.-Ch. xiv. 26. And the keynote of the hymn, is in Ps. xl. 8. He, can set our lives, to the same divine harmony; giving us songs in the night" (Job xxxv. 10; Ps. xlii. 8.), making melody sweet as the new Song before the Throne, of those, who came out of great tribulation. (Rev. vii. 9, 12, 14). Sept. 23.-Ch. xiv. 50. "They all forsook Him and fled." Even Peter who had just said, "Although all shall be offended, yet will not I" (verse 29). The "secret" of safety is "kept by the power of God," revealed, only to those, who trust Him, to "keep ". (2 Tim. i. 12; Eph. vi. 16; 1 John v. 4, 5). Sept. 24.-Ch. xiv. 54. "Afar off." No wonder Peter fell! Our "Joseph" says, "Come near unto Me, I pray you" (Gen. xlv. 4). If we would know the "keeping" power of the Master, we must dwell under His shadow, abide under His wings; yea, live in the very "cleft of the Rock" (Cant. ii. 14; 1 Sam. xxii. 23). Then Is. xxvii. 3. will come blessedly true. Sept. 25.-Ch. xv. 10, 11. "Who can stand before envy ?" Not even the Holy One, of whom Pilate witnessed. "I find no fault in Him." An unlovely "work of the flesh " (Gal. v. 21), which as we walk in the Spirit, we shall not fulfil (Gal. v. 16). Its absence, manifests the Master's likeness (Mark ix. 38, 39, 40), and was a feature of great beauty, in Moses (Num. xi. 25-29); John the Baptist (John iii. 29, 30); and Paul (Phil. i. 15-19). 214 DAILY BIBLE THOUGHTS FOR THE MONTH. Sept. 26.-Ch. xvi. 3. "Looking up,they see the stone, is rolled away" (R. V.). It is so still. As we look up, we see the risen Jesus in the glory; and like Stephen, we realise "the power of God," before which every stone, though "it be exceeding great," is rolled away. The "looking up," is the result of being "full of the Holy Ghost" (Acts vii. 55, 56). Sept. 27.-Ch. xvi. 15, 20. The link of power, between the reception of the command, and the going forth in obedience, was the Risen Lord in Glory, working in them, and with them. Let us yield ourselves fully to Him as "children of obedience" (1 Pet. i. 14, R.V.), and He will do great things through us (Heb. xiii. 20, 21). Sept. 28.-Luke i. 9-17. It was when Zacharias was burning incense (offering praise), that the blessing long prayed for, was promised, and it is when we exalt Jesus, the Father's "delight," presenting Him as the "sweet savour of rest," that He withholds from us, nothing (Eph. i. 17; John xv. 16; Rom. viii. 32). Sept. 29.-Ch. i. 35, 37, 38. The grand promise of verse 35, passed into glorious fulfilment to Mary, because, with unquestioning faith, she accepted the fact of the power of the Promiser (verse 37; Jer. xxxii. 17), and rested on His word, self in its weakness lost sight of. Let us grasp His strength, and say with her, "Be it unto me, according to Thy word" (Ps. cxix. 49). Sept. 30.-Ch. i. 49. This must ever be the outcome of verse 35, appropriated and rested on, and Mary's glorious song of praise, will be daily, more sweet as we rejoice in God our Saviour, and prove His power to redeem us from all iniquity (Ps. cxix. 65). "CHRISTIAN PROGRESS" SCRIPTURE READING UNION. 1 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 Beaders 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 Rev. ERNEST BOYS, Beverley, Sidcup, Kent. One stamp must be enclosed, and a card of Membership will be forwarded. Our increase still continues satisfactory. During the past month we have received the names of 979 Members, and 503 Associates, making our registered total on August 10th to be 55,086 of the former, and 23,812 of the latter. We have printed a large supply of Union Invitations, and are prepared to send a packet, post free, to any of our readers who will distribute them amongst friends, in their letters or otherwise. SUBJECT OF PRAYER FOR SEPTEMBER. For our soldiers who are on service in Egypt, that in this time of terrible danger, they may look to Jesus as their Saviour and their King. SCRIPTURE reading UNION. SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR THREE MONTHS. OLD TESTAMENT DAILY CHAPTERS FOR SEPTEMBER. Psalm xcix. 17 Psalm 215 xci. 9 xcii. 10 cvii. 25 Psalm CXV. xcvii. 15 Cv. 23 cxii. 30 cxiii. CXX. October 1st commences with Psalm cxxi., and November 1st with Proverbs ii. The readings for the intermediate days can easily be calculated at the rate of one chapter a day. NEW TESTAMENT READINGS FOR THREE MONTHS. 17 SU MY MEDITATION OF HIM SHALL BE SWEET. Ps. I can do all things through Christ. Phil. iv. 13. Ps. xx. 7. To sit with Me in My throne. Rev. iii. 21. FOR HIS NAME'S SAKE THEY WENT FORTH. 3Jno.7. Love covereth all sins. Matt. xxvi. 39. Mic. vi. 8. I Tim. v. 4. Prov. x. 12. |