, when that hour shall come,
may it be a glad, glad thought to look back over the trials and sacrifices
of these days and remember, "I was there, and by the help of God and the
grace of Jesus, I am here."

MAY 23.

"The fulness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ" (Rom. xv. 29).

Many Christians fail to see these blessings as they are centered in Him.
They want to get the blessing of salvation, but that is not the Christ.
They want to get the blessing of His grace to help, but that is not Him.
They want to get answered prayer from Him to work for Him. You might have
all that and not have the blessing of Christ Himself. A great many people
are attached rather to the system of doctrine. They say, "Yes, I have got
the truth; I am orthodox." That is not the Christ. It may be the cold
statue in the fountain with the water passing from the cold hands and
lips, but no life there. A great many other people want to get the
blessing of joy, but it is not the blessing of Christ personally. A great
many people are more attached to their church and pastor, or to dear
Christians friends, but that is not the Christ. The blessing that will
alone fill your heart when all else fails is the loving heart of Jesus
united to you, the fountain of all your blessings and the unfailing one
when they all wither and are exhausted--Jesus Christ Himself.

MAY 24.

"Where is the way where light dwelleth" (Job xxxviii. 19).

Jewels, in themselves, are valueless, unless they are brought in contact
with light. If they are put in certain positions they will reflect the
beauty of the sun. There is no beauty in them otherwise. The diamond that
is back in its dark gallery or down in the deep mine, displays no beauty
whatever. What is it but a piece of charcoal, a bit of common carbon,
unless it becomes a medium for reflecting light? And so it is also with
the other precious gems. Their varied tints are nothing without light. If
they are many-sided, they reflect more light, and display more beauty. If
you put paste beside a diamond there is no brilliancy in it. In its crude
state it does not reflect light at all. So we are in a crude state and are
of no use at all until God comes and shines upon us. The light that is in
a diamond is not its own possession; it is the beauty of the sun. What
beauty is there in the child of God? Only the beauty of Jesus. We are His
peculiar people, chosen to show forth His excellencies who hath call