life that is dearest to the heart of God, and will rise to the
highest glory and usefulness, is the one whose foundation principle is
sacrifice and self-renunciation. This is why the Master teaches us to
give, because giving means loving, and love is but another name for life.

JUNE 20.

"Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called" (I. Cor.
vii. 20).

O ye who complain about your calling or fret about the changes and trials
of life, how do you know but that these very changes are the divine
methods by which God's purposes of blessing and usefulness concerning you
be fulfilled? Had Aquila not been compelled to leave Rome and break up his
home and business, he would probably have never met with Paul, and been
called to the knowledge and service of Christ through this providential
meeting. Had he not been a working man, and pursuing his ordinary
avocation he would not have been brought into contact with the apostle. It
was in the line of their calling, their common duties, and the
providential changes of their life that God called them. And so He meets
us. Do not try hard to run away from it, but, as the apostle has so finely
put it, "Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he is called, let
him therein abide with God." Make the most of your incidental
opportunities.

JUNE 21.

"God hath set some in the church ... helps" (I. Cor. xii. 28).

In the apostle's lists of officers in the church the "helps" are mentioned
before the "governments." By the ministry of prayer, by the ministry of
giving, by the ministry of encouragement, by the shining face and mute
pressure of the hand, and a little word of cheer, and by the countless
ways in which we can help, or at least can keep from hindering, we can all
find still the footprints of Aquila and Priscilla, if we want to follow
them. It is a great grace to be able to rejoice in another's work and pour
our lives, like affluent rivers, into great streams. But God knows whence
every drop has come, and in the greater day of recompense many of the
helps shall have the chief reward. Beloved, are you helping? Are you
helping your pastor, your brother, your husband, your mother, your
fellow-worker, and when the harvest comes shall he that soweth and he that
reapeth rejoice together?

You can help by holy prayer,
Helpful love and joyful song,
O, the burdens you may bear,
O, the sorrows you may share,
O, the crowns you yet may wear,