| Christian Life and Doctrine | May 1950 |
“Songs in the Night”
MAY 1
Ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.—I Thess. 5:4
OUR present attitude, dear brethren, should be one of great gratitude toward God, increasing appreciation of the beautiful truth which he has granted us the privilege of seeing and being identified with, and increasing zeal in helping to bring that truth to the knowledge of others. In the meantime, our eyes of understanding should discern clearly the Battle of the Great Day of God Almighty now in progress; and our faith, guiding our eyes of understanding through the Word, should enable us to see the glorious outcome—Messiah’s kingdom. Furthermore we can be fully content not to know how long the harvest work will last—content that the great Captain, who by divine appointment has the entire matter in charge, is too wise to err, and has promised us that all our experiences shall work together for our good if we love him and are of the called ones according to his purpose, seeking to make our calling and election sure.—Z 1916-265 (Hymn 289)
MAY 2
Remember Lot’s wife.—Luke 17:32
WE BELIEVE there are some now who need to have their attention called to the antitype of this typical incident referred to by our Lord. Quite a number are disposed to sympathize and fraternize with those who have come under divine condemnation. We are told by St. Jude that the destruction of Sodom was “set forth as an example” or type. Those who assume to be more gracious or long-suffering than the Lord, make of themselves opponents, who instead of being students of the principles of righteousness, attempt to be judges and teachers of Jehovah. The proper attitude of heart accepts God’s decisions as not only wiser but more just than our own. Consequently when we see any who have enjoyed the light of present truth abandoned by the Lord and led into outer darkness, we are to conclude that before being thus abandoned there must have been in them “an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.”—Z 1916-262 (Hymn 161)
MAY 3
Therefore, being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.—Romans 5:1
THIS scripture would not apply to any who have not come to the point of consecration and acceptance and who are merely approaching through the court. These do, however, have a measure of peace in proportion as they progress. A certain measure of peace and joy comes from finding that there is a way back to God through the endeavor to put away sin and to draw near to him; but the peace of the church mentioned by the apostle in this text can apply only to those who have come into the condition of the sons of God. God is not at peace with any others.—Z 1916-285 (Hymn 182)
MAY 4
Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance.—Psalm 89:15
OUR Lord in symbol pointed out to us the fact that the message of his grace in the closing days of this Gospel age would be so different from the commonly accepted message, misnamed the Gospel, that it would properly be termed a new song, although it would be the old song of Moses—the message of blessing typified by the writing of Moses and by all the ceremonies of the Law; … and the testimony of all the apostles respecting the Lamb of God and the great work to be accomplished by him in taking “away the sin of the world.” It is merely this same song that is now being sung by those whom God has blessed with a knowledge of present truth—it is the “joyful sound” which only the people thus blessed know or can sing. … Our text implies that in order to be of the people who will know the joyful sound it will be necessary to walk in the light of God’s countenance. Or, reversing the statement, the thought is that all who walk in the light of God’s countenance shall be his blessed people, and shall know the joyful sound.—Z 1900-37 (Hymn 315)
MAY 5
Lord, increase our faith.—Luke 17:5
IF WE believe that we are in the harvest time of this age, and that the harvest work is in progress, and we participators in it, let us believe also that the great Chief Reaper is thoroughly able to use us as well as bless us in his service; and let none look at clouds and discouragements, but let each do with his might what his hands find to do, with the eye of faith “looking unto Jesus,” our Captain, and determined that whether or not he shall be able to bring many unto the kingdom, the King shall at least have evidence of his love and zeal and effort to do so.—Z 1899-205 (Hymn 232)
MAY 6
The true worshipers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.—John 4:23
WORSHIP in Spirit and in truth does not apply simply to prayer, praise, supplication, and thanksgiving. It goes deeper than all these and takes hold upon the affections, upon the heart, and hence signifies not an “act of worship” but rather a life of worship—a life in which, through the begetting of the Spirit and the knowledge of the divine plan, the individual becomes so at one with God and so in unison with the law of God and all the features of the plan of God that it is, in the words of our Lord, his meat and his drink to do the Father’s will. This is worship in Spirit and in truth. It will find its expression in bended knee and in orderly and reverential demeanor in approach to God in personal prayer, in family prayer and in company with the household of faith, and it will find its expression also in all the acts and words of life. The captivated heart will seek to bring every talent of the body into complete subjection to the will of God and of Christ. The whole of this is the worship which God seeketh; and, surely, only those who are thus captivated to the Lord in heart, and who serve him in Spirit and in truth and endeavor to have his will done in their hearts, words, and conduct are in the full sense the true worshipers whom the Lord seeketh; the “little flock,” the faithful “royal priesthood.”—Z 1896-287 (Hymn 202)
MAY 7
Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.—Matthew 4:11
OUR Lord’s utter refusal of every other way of carrying out his mission than the one which the Father had marked out, the way of self-sacrifice, the narrow way, was indeed a great victory. The Adversary left him, finding nothing in him that he could take hold of or work upon, so thoroughly loyal was he to the very Word and the Spirit of Jehovah. And then, the trial being ended, the holy angels came and ministered unto the Lord—doubtless supplying him with refreshment such as he had refused to exercise the divine power to obtain for himself. And such we may recognize as being the experience of our Lord’s followers: with victory comes a blessing from the Lord, fellowship of spirit, refreshment of heart, a realization of divine favor that makes stronger for the next trial.—Z 1900-35 (Hymn 65)
MAY 8
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.—I John 3:18
THIS is a personal matter. Each one of us is under this testing. If not yet, sooner or later, undoubtedly, this willingness to sacrifice in the interests of the brethren will prove each one of us either loyal, faithful to our covenant, or contrariwise—unfaithful. Let us make this matter of love for the brethren and laying down our lives for the brethren a matter of personal study and of practical application to our own hearts, minds, thoughts, words, actions. And let us pray for one another, as well as exhort one another along these lines, striving to be filled with our Master’s spirit.—Z 1916-261 (Hymn 166)
MAY 9
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.—Psalm 122:6
THESE words are as true of the Jerusalem the higher and her children of peace as of the earthly Jerusalem. Those who are praying the Lord’s blessing upon his cause are seeking to serve it and are proportionately blessed. Those who are indifferent to the welfare of Zion and the Lord’s cause now are standing in a slippery place and are in great danger of falling. … It keeps us humble as we remember our needs, and it strengthens us as we remember the Lord’s sufficiency and his willingness to pour out his blessing in answer to our prayers. These prayers, and the divine power to which they are attached are to our hearts a bulwark against the many Satan-blinded foes who beset us continually because of our loyalty to the Lord and to his Word.—Z 1900-48 (Hymn 18)
MAY 10
The night is far spent, the day is at hand.—Romans 13:12
IN VIEW of this knowledge of the wonderful day about to dawn, how shall we who are hoping to be of the kingdom class of that day deport ourselves now? How shall we live? Ah! says the apostle, if we are “children of the day,” we are to show it. We are God’s representatives and ambassadors. We are to tell the people about the light and knowledge and glory of God that is to come so soon, that will fill the whole earth by and by. We are to help them to contrast the present with the glorious conditions that will then exist, so that all who love the light may take heed to the Word of God and get ready to be members of that kingdom class. … Let us remember that we belong to the new dispensation, and not to the old, and should, therefore, live in accordance with our citizenship and our responsibilities toward the Prince of Light and in opposition to the prince of darkness, his works and his ways.—Z 1913-325 (Hymn 289)
MAY 11
Be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the Lord, and work: for I am with you.—Haggai 2:4
ALL who have confidence in the Lord may rely upon his assurance that he has all things needful for the accomplishment of his purposes. “The Lord knoweth them that are his.” Therefore, in the language of the text, let us all be strong and work, for God is with us; we are merely co-workers with him. He will surely accomplish the great work he has promised; the spiritual temple shall be built; but our individual blessing in connection with it will be in proportion as we have been strong in the Lord and full of faith and full of zeal, as co-workers together with him.—Z 1899-221 (Hymn 210)
MAY 12
He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted.—Isaiah 61:3
THE anointed ones are not to spend their time endeavoring to break the hard hearts of the worldly, for this is not a part of their commission. … The message is to “bind up the broken-hearted.” How much there is of this very kind of work that needs doing! The poor in spirit, contrite and mellowed of heart, disappointed with the world, vexed with the flesh and the Adversary, are to be found in nearly every quarter of the world; and whosoever has received the anointing of the Holy Spirit should realize that this power upon him is given to be exercised upon this needy class—pouring in the oil and the wine of the divine promises, to cheer and comfort and bless, and prepare for joint-heirship in the kingdom some of the very class whom the Lord will be pleased to accept.—Z 1900-55 (Hymn 73)
MAY 13
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen [nations], I will be exalted in the earth.—Psalm 46:10
THIS command, “Be still,” corresponds to the still small voice which Elijah heard—to what we as the anti-typical Elijah are now hearing from the Word of God, namely, that not by earthly might nor by earthly power will the Lord establish his rule, but that in the coming time his King shall reign in Zion and execute judgments in the earth, rewarding the righteous and punishing the evildoer, with the result that all shall come to a knowledge of the Lord from the least to the greatest; that the knowledge of the Lord shall fill the whole earth as the waters cover the sea; and with the further result that the Spirit of the Lord shall be poured upon all flesh, as the mouth of the Lord has promised.—Z 1904-249 (Hymn Appendix R)
MAY 14
Grow up into … Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.—Eph. 4:15,16
THE apostle’s thought seems to be that while each new creature may be considered as a complete member of Christ, and have all the parts of his own character thoroughly lubricated with the spirit of love, in addition to this all the new creatures are to recognize themselves as members one of another, and of the body of Christ, the church, and are to exercise toward one another in their various efforts toward co-operation in obedience to the will of the Lord such love, such unction, such anointing, such lubrication, as will prevent friction and enable the whole body of Christ to co-operate for its own upbuilding in the graces as well as for its own completion in numbers.—Z 1897-295 (Hymn 198)
MAY 15
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.—Gal. 5:25
THE apostle explains that those who have become Christ’s followers have crucified the flesh with the passions and desires thereof. They have voluntarily agreed that they will live contrary to the emotions and desires of the fallen flesh. He urges, If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let us also walk! It is the Spirit of God which has quickened us and which ultimately is to perfect us. But it can perfect us only if we are led by it and walk in its ways. Otherwise we will not be fit for a place in the kingdom, whatever other place in God’s arrangement we may have. One of the most dangerous besetments of the Christian is vanity. It leads to more trouble, provokes more quarrels and envyings than is generally supposed. If we are walking after the Spirit of our Master it will mean that instead of being vainglorious we will be meek, humble, teachable. And only such will eventually be ready for the glory, honor, and immortality which God will bestow upon the faithful at the second coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.—Z 1910-303 (Hymn 91)
MAY 16
Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.—II Peter 3:17
ALL who seek to teach the divine plan to others are exposed to peculiar temptations, so that the honor of serving the Lord and his people demands a correspondingly larger measure of the graces of the Holy Spirit, as well as of knowledge. The tendency of knowledge, the apostle points out, is merely to puff up, make vain and conceited, and to become a temptation of the Adversary, to draw away followers after them. (Acts 20:30) Whoever therefore would be an instructor of others, a mouthpiece of the Lord should cultivate all the various graces of the Holy Spirit, including meekness; that these combined (love) with knowledge, may build up himself as well as build up those to whom he ministers. “Knowledge [alone] puffeth up, but love buildeth up.”—Z 1897-277 (Hymn 200)
MAY 17
Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.—Col. 3:23
THE Lord leaves his people free from restraints; free from threats; free from compulsion; to the intent that they may present their bodies living sacrifices day by day. Now, as then, whoever grows cold may discontinue his sacrificing, but himself will be the loser. We want to keep distinctly before our minds that while God condemns sin, and while his people have no liberty in this respect, but are obligated to do their best to withstand sin, it is different in the matter of sacrifice. The Lord is calling for free-will offerings, and whatever is not given with a hearty good will, yea, with an earnest desire, with zeal, may as well be kept—but the rewards promised to those who imitate the spirit of the Master and his devotion will be lost also.—Z 1902-149 (Hymn 299)
MAY 18
In the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.—Eph. 2:7
ALL this abundance of grace and glory is the possible inheritance of even the weakest saint who, trusting not to his own ability to make his calling and election sure, humbly looks to God for strength from day to day to endure hardness as a good soldier. If any man attempts to do this in his own strength he must surely fail, for the fiery trial that is to try every one will prove too much for the mind of the flesh; but God who worketh in the consecrated to will and to do his good pleasure will so fortify and equip those who depend upon his grace that with the Psalmist they can say, “It is God that girdeth me with strength. … By thee I have run through a troop, and by my God have I leaped over a wall”; and with Paul, “I can do all things through Christ, who strengtheneth me.”—Z 1897-145 (Hymn 261)
MAY 19
Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee.—Mark 5:19
OH, THAT we all might be diligent to be thus faithful stewards of the grace of God, and faithful representatives of our great Redeemer—not only witnessing with our lips, but in all the departments of life testifying that we are now sane, that we have now the spirit of a sound mind, that we love the things that are right and true and noble and good, that we hate and are living in opposition to the things which are sinful and contrary to the mind of the Lord and the ways of righteousness!—Z 1906-147 (Hymn 118)
MAY 20
Help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on thee.—II Chron. 14:11
LET the world fight its fight: the Lord will supervise and the results will be glorious eventually. Let us who belong to the new nation, to the new kingdom that is not of this world, who use no carnal weapons, but the sword of the Spirit—let us fight the good fight of faith, lay hold upon the glorious things set before us, and not only stand ourselves, but help all those begotten of the same Spirit and members of the same heavenly army corps to stand, complete in him who is the Head of the body, the Captain of our Salvation. By and by God’s loving care over all his creatures will be manifested in the glorious kingdom of his dear Son, which shall bless and rule, instruct, and uplift mankind in general. “The groaning creation” will then be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the sons of God—so many of them as will then accept the blessing. Then all will see that God so loved the world as to give his Son to die for us and to thus open the way for his kingdom blessings.—Z 1904-205 (Hymn 164)
MAY 21
My mouth shall praise Thee with joyful lips: when I remember Thee upon my bed, and meditate on Thee in the night watches.—Psa. 63:5,6
THERE are millions of people in the world who have never heard of God’s wonderful plan; therefore our mouths should be used in praising God. We should be continually remembering the Lord in all of our moments of rest, whether upon a bed, or wherever it may be. The great and holy laws of God find expression in him. We should think of God as the personification of all that is just, loving, kind, wise, in character and in principle. This should stimulate us to be like him. The more we appreciate a noble character the more we desire to emulate it. The more we see of God’s mighty works in nature and his mercies toward us, in that same proportion our hearts and lips will praise him. If there is a prophetic thought connected with this passage, it is that all through the Dark Ages, all through the nighttime of this age, God’s faithful people have been praising him. All of his true people have been praising him and have done so with joyful lips. Those who have not been doing this are not of this class. We should, therefore, render praise to our God. We should meditate more and more upon his holy will and ways, and strive to conform ourselves thereto. Thus shall we become more and more like unto our Father in heaven.—Z 1915-310 (Hymn 235)
MAY 22
Little children, keep yourselves from idols.—I John 5:21
EVIL is insidious, and every parting of the ways, every leaving of the divine path, signifies a separation from righteousness to a degree we are unable to estimate at the beginning. Let us learn that the only safe course to pursue is to trust in the Lord and to be glad to have whatever his providences may mark out for us, and to refuse to have anything contrary to his will, however desirable it might be, however gratifying to human ambition. Let us learn the lesson that ambition is a dangerous thing—especially in our present imperfect condition, where our judgments are more or less warped from the fall, where our knowledge is imperfect, and where Satan is sure to put light for darkness, and darkness for light. Our ambitions must be curbed, yea, every thought must be brought into subjection to the will of God in Christ, if we would be on safe ground as new creatures in Christ Jesus.—Z 1904-190 (Hymn 272)
MAY 23
Love worketh no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the Law.—Rom. 13:10
THOSE who have made a full consecration of heart to the Lord constitute the pure in heart under the law of love. But notwithstanding the purity of their hearts, their intentions, their wills, to fulfill the royal law of love, these have a battle to wage. The law of their members, depraved through inherited sin, is the strong law of selfishness, in opposition to the new law to which they have pledged themselves—the law of love. Yet their inability to live up to the requirements of that new law must be through no lack of will, no lack of intention of the pure, loyal heart. Whatever failure they make, however short they may come at times of obtaining the victory, it must be solely because of weakness of the flesh and the besetments of the Adversary, which their pure hearts failed to resist. Here the Lord’s promises are helpful, assuring them that he knows their weaknesses and frailties, as well as the wiles of the devil and the influence of the spirit of the world, which are contrary to the spirit of love. He tells them that they may go freely to the throne of heavenly grace, there to obtain mercy in respect to their failures to live up to the high standard which their hearts acknowledge and to which they strive to conform. He also assures them that they may find grace to help in every time of need.—Z 1912-337 (Hymn 150)
MAY 24
Jesus said unto them, I am the Bread of Life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger.—John 6:35
THE more people are satisfied with earthly things the less inclination they will have for the heavenly things, and the more we are satisfied with the heavenly things the less of appetite will we have for the earthly things. The new nature flourishes at the expense of the old nature, and the new ambitions, hopes, and desires at the expense of the old. Likewise when the old nature flourishes it is at the expense of the new in all of life’s affairs. Let us, then, realizing the difference between the food that perisheth and the food that brings divine blessing—eternal life—let us choose the latter, let us feed more and more upon the Lord and upon his Word, and thus grow strong in the Lord and in the power of his might, and be more and more weaned from the world, its spirit, its hopes, its ambitions. We seek a heavenly country, a heavenly kingdom, a heavenly nature, and heavenly qualities, fitted and prepared for that heavenly nature. We have found the great Life-giver, the One who can and does supply this Bread from heaven. It is our great privilege to be the dispensers of this Bread. “Give ye them to eat.” “He that hath an ear let him hear.”—Z 1904-82 (Hymn 96)
MAY 25
With us is the Lord our God to help us, and to fight our battles.—II Chron. 32:8
WHAT a lesson is here for all of the Lord’s people of spiritual Israel today! When our proudest, strongest foes seem triumphing over us the most, when they are loudest in their denunciations of the Lord and his promises, is the very time when we should lay hold on the Lord’s promises with the greatest confidence. Indeed, we give it as our experience that those who are most thoroughly rooted and grounded, whose hopes are most surely anchored within the veil, are those who have been attested very trying experiences, and have had occasion to call mightily upon the Lord for help, when there was no earthly arm to lean upon. How many have found that the breaking of earthly ties has meant the strengthening, of the heavenly ones, that the opposition of the world and the Adversary has meant increase of spiritual favor, because “greater is he that is for us than all they that be against us.”—Z 1905-191 (Hymn 301)
MAY 26
Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.—Psa. 37:3
AS WE think of the Lord’s goodness promised to the world in general in his own due time, in the sweet by and by, and as we look back also and see his gracious care over those of ancient times who trusted him, what shall we say respecting ourselves of this Gospel age, who have much advantage every way over those of olden times as well as over those of the age to come, in that we have the special favor and blessing of the Lord in the knowledge of his gracious plan and an adoption into his family? Shall we not reckon that he who was careful in the past, who will delight in giving blessings in the future, is now ready and willing to pour out to each of us as his children blessings, especially spiritual, to the extent of our willingness and faith to receive? If while we were yet sinners God loved us so as to redeem us, much more now that we are forgiven and accepted into his family, and adopted and made joint-heirs with our Lord Jesus prospectively, may we not expect of the Lord continually, day by day, the blessings and favors which he assures us he is well pleased to bestow upon us? Surely faith can trust him, come what may! While the Lord is now pouring out his Spirit upon his servants and handmaidens, it is for them to see that they are emptied vessels—empty that he may fill them—enlarged more and more that they may be more and more filled with the Spirit of God.—Z 1904-284 (Hymn 313)
MAY 27
At evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.—John 20:19
MANY are so situated that they are unable to gratify the desires of their hearts in respect to assembling frequently with others of like precious faith, to talk over the good things of the Lord’s Word of promise; but the isolated should not feel disappointed that the Lord’s Word says that he will meet with the twos and threes, and does not promise the same to the solitary. They should rather look about them to see what provision the Lord has made whereby at least two can meet and discuss his Word together. … We may be well assured that those who have opportunities for meeting together, and speaking together, and who fail to use the opportunities, are manifesting a lack of interest in our great salvation, and that such are very likely to lose the remainder of their interest, and failing of the Lord’s instructions given to such, may fail also to be among the “jewels” whom he will gather. If on the contrary one feels little interest in the heavenly things, little disposed to discuss the features of the divine plan and its promises, and happy only when conversing on worldly matters, business, etc., it is an unfavorable sign. The Lord is not likely to approach such and open their understanding respecting the Scriptures, as he surely is pleased to do to those who are hungering and thirsting after truth.—Z 1901-136 (Hymn 329)
MAY 28
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.—Heb. 4:16
IT IS not for us to exert force in opposition, nor to shout loudly about our rights. We are to remember that in becoming soldiers of the cross we voluntarily gave up all earthly rights in order that we might be participators with the Captain of our Salvation, who permitted all of his rights to be taken from him, even unto death. As the followers of Jesus are made a spectacle to the world and to angels, they are also permitted to strengthen and build up one another in the most holy faith by their love and zeal for the Lord and his message. We may well remember our privilege of praying one for another under such circumstances. We may not pray for the Lord to hinder others or ourselves from having trials or tests along these lines, for it is for the divine wisdom to determine what these shall be, but it is our privilege to pray for one another and for ourselves—to pray for that grace to help in every time of need which the Lord has promised he will grant.—Z 1916-221 (Hymn 115)
MAY 29
Who is worthy to open the Book, and to loose the seals thereof?—Rev. 5:2
THE opening of the seals has progressed during all the Gospel age. The whole plan of God is represented in this book—the scroll. It has required all of the present age and will require all of the next age to complete the plan. The plan of God includes the “restitution of all things spoken.” We are now able to see these wonderful things and to tell about them, because each of the seals as it has been opened has made the plan a little clearer. We may suppose that the Lord Jesus was made aware of all its features after his ascension to the presence of Jehovah. We who are God’s people are seeking to know these things more and more fully. The Master declared that as the Father revealed them unto him so would he reveal them unto us; but this revelation has been gradual, as the successive seals have been broken. Brethren, beloved in Christ, realizing that our God has hitherto counted us worthy to look upon the wondrous scroll of his great plan, which has been unsealed for us by Jesus our Lord, let us continue to prove ourselves worthy to look therein and to comprehend the glorious things of his Word, by faithfulness, obedience, and loyalty to this plan in everything! Let our appreciation continually increase for our wondrous privilege in being permitted to share this blessed ministry of bearing divine truth to other hungry hearts, that they also may rejoice in the Lord and in the power of his might!—Z 1916-253 (Hymn 226)
MAY 30
Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.—Eph. 6:11
THE Lord’s children are to see to it that they are not deluded into sin and into the service of sin; to that extent they would be deserting their colors and taking their stand as opponents of the Lord. When Christians take a decided stand against Satan and his wiles they are relieved from his attacks—not that he flees from them in the sense that he is fearful of harm to himself, but that he will leave them. He will retreat just as a general of an army would retreat from a city after having found that its gates were strongly protected and that attack was useless. If the Adversary finds one well protected and resisting him with a firm will, he will at once retreat. But if there be any parley with sin, any tendency to consider a matter when it is seen to be sin, an entrance is at once made for the Adversary; and he will renew the attack and press the matter, placing it in the most alluring light, in order that he may take control, that he may enter the heart where he has found the weakness. Hence it is of the utmost importance that the child of God should make a positive and prompt decision when he realizes that he is being enticed to evil. A moment’s hesitation is very dangerous. Those who take their stand for the Lord, who give themselves fully and unreservedly to him, he has agreed to protect. He may permit them to be assailed for a time, but he will deliver them so long as they remain loyal and true; and they will be made stronger as the result of the temptations.—Z 1916-148 (Hymn 44)
MAY 31
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may. know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.—Eph. 1:18
IT REQUIRES time for heart and head so to expand as to take in a glimpse of such a wonderful blessing as his which God has provided for the elect. But whoever gets even a faint glimpse of the greatness of God’s favor toward the church will not be surprised that in the divine plan so liberal an allowance as nearly nineteen centuries was made for the calling and chastisement and perfecting of the saints for the great and glorious work to which they, as joint-heirs with Messiah, are called. Neither will they think strange the fiery trials which try all of these whom the Lord our God calls, and accepts as probationary members of the elect kingdom class. They will perceive, readily enough, that if it was expedient, yea, necessary, that our Lord Jesus, with all of his experience in the heavenly courts, must “learn obedience by the things which he suffered,” and prove his loyalty to the Father by faithfulness even unto death, much more must his followers—whose previous history was that of sinners—be tried and thoroughly tested in respect to their loyalty to the Lord.—Z 1903-94 (Hymn 291)