Milo

February 4

“I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth.” (Isa. 58:14.)

THOSE who fly through the air in airships tell us that one of the first rules they learn is to turn their ship toward the wind, and fly against it. The wind lifts the ship up to higher heights. Where did they learn that? They learned it from the birds. If a bird is flying for pleasure, it goes with the wind. But if the bird meets danger, it turns right around and faces the wind, in order that it may rise higher; and It flies away towards the very sun.
Sufferings are God’s winds, His contrary winds, sometimes His strong winds. They are God’s hurricanes, but, they take human life and lift it to higher levels and toward God’s heavens.
You have seen in the summer time a day when the atmosphere was so oppressive that you could hardly breathe? But a cloud appeared on the western horizon and that cloud grew larger and threw out rich blessing for the world. The storm rose, lightning flashed and thunder pealed. The storm covered the world, and the atmosphere was cleansed; new life was in the air, and the world was changed.
Human life is worked out according to exactly the same principle. When the storm breaks the atmosphere is changed, clarified, filled with new life; and a part of heaven is brought down to earth.—Selected.
Obstacles ought to set us singing. The wind finds voice, not when rushing across the open sea, but when hindered by the outstretched arms of the pine trees, or broken by the fine strings of an Aeolian harp. Then it has songs of power and beauty. Set your freed soul sweeping across the obstacles of life, through grim forests of pain, against even the tiny hindrances and frets that love uses, and it, too, will find its singing voice.—Selected.

“Be like a bird that, halting in its flight,
Rests on a bough too slight.
And feeling it give way beneath him sings,
Knowing he hath wings.”

February 3

“And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness.” (Mark 1:12.)

IT seemed a strange proof of Divine favor. “Immediately.” Immediately after what? After the opened heavens and the dove-like peace and the voice of the Father’s blessing, “Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” It is no abnormal experience. Thou, too, hast passed through it, O my soul. Are not the times of thy deepest depression just the moments that follow thy loftiest flight? Yesterday thou wert soaring far in the firmament, and singing in the radiance of the morn; today thy wings are folded and thy song silent. At noon thou wert basking in the sunshine of a Father’s smile; at eve thou art saying in the wilderness, “My way is hid from the Lord.”
Nay, but, my soul, the very suddenness of the change is a proof that it is not revolutionary.
Hast thou weighed the comfort of that word “immediately”? Why does it come so soon after the blessing? Just to show that it is the sequel to the blessing. God shines on thee to make thee fit for life’s desert-places—for its Gethsemanes, for its Calvaries. He lifts thee up that He may give thee strength to go further down; He illuminates thee that He may send thee into the night, that He may make thee a help to the helpless.
Not at all times art thou worthy of the wilderness; thou art only worthy of the wilderness after the splendors of Jordan. Nothing but the Son’s vision can fit thee for the Spirit’s burden; only the glory of the baptism can support the hunger of the desert.—George Matheson.

After benediction comes battle.

The time of testing that marks and mightily enriches a soul’s spiritual career is no ordinary one, but a period when all hell seems let loose, a period when we realize our souls are brought into a net, when we know that God is permitting us to be in the devil’s hand. But it is a period which always ends in certain triumph for those who have committed the keeping of their souls to Him, a period of marvelous “nevertheless afterward” of abundant usefulness, the sixty-fold that surely follows.—Aphra White.

February 2

“In the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft: in his quiver hath he hid me.” (Isa. 49:2.)

IN the shadow.” We must all go there sometimes. The glare of the daylight is too brilliant; our eyes become injured, and unable to discern the delicate shades of color, or appreciate neutral tints—the shadowed chamber of sickness, the shadowed house of mourning, the shadowed life from which the sunlight has gone.
But fear not! It is the shadow of God’s hand. He is leading thee. There are lessons that can be learned only there.
The photograph of His face can only be fixed in the dark chamber. But do not suppose that He has cast thee aside. Thou art still in His quiver; He has not flung thee away as a worthless thing.
He is only keeping thee close till the moment comes when He can send thee most swiftly and surely on some errand in which He will be glorified. Oh, shadowed, solitary ones, remember how closely the quiver is bound to the warrior, within easy reach of the hand, and guarded jealously.—Christ in Isaiah, Meyer.
In some spheres the shadow condition is the condition of greatest growth. The beautiful Indian corn never grows more rapidly than in the shadow of a warm summer night. The sun curls the leaves in the sultry noon light, but they quickly unfold, if a cloud slips over the sky. There is a service in the shadow that is not in the shine. The world of stellar beauty is never seen at its best till the shadows of night slip over the sky. There are beauties that bloom in the shade that will not bloom in the sun. There is much greenery in lands of fog and clouds and shadow. The florist has “evening glories” now, as well as “morning glories.” The “evening glory” will not shine in the noon’s splendor, but comes to its best as the shadows of evening deepen.

If all of life were sunshine,
  Our faces would be fain
To feel once more upon them
  The cooling plash of rain.

—Henry Van Dyke.

February 1

“This thing is from me.” (1 Kings 12:24.)

“Life’s disappointments are veiled love’s appointments.”—Rev. C. A. Fox.

MY child, I have a message for you today; let me whisper it in your ear, that it may gild with glory any storm clouds which may arise, and smooth the rough places upon which you may have to tread. It is short, only five words, but let them sink into your inmost soul; use them as a pillow upon which to rest your weary head. This thing is from ME.
Have you ever thought of it, that all that concerns you concerns Me too? For, “he that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of mine eye” (Zech. 2:8). You are very precious in My sight. (Isa. 43:4.) Therefore, it is My special delight to educate you.
I would have you learn when temptations assail you, and the “enemy comes in like a flood,” that this thing is from Me, that your weakness needs My might, and your safety lies in letting Me fight for you.
Are you in difficult circumstances, surrounded by people who do not understand you, who never consult your taste, who put you in the background? This thing is from Me. I am the God of circumstances. Thou camest not to thy place by accident, it is the very place God meant for thee.
Have you not asked to be made humble? See then, I have placed you in the very school where this lesson is taught; your surroundings and companions are only working out My will.
Are you in money difficulties? Is it hard to make both ends meet? This thing is from Me, for I am your purse-bearer and would have you draw from and depend upon Me. My supplies are limitless (Phil. 4:19). I would have you prove my promises. Let it not be said of you, “In this thing ye did not believe the Lord your God” (Deut. 1:32).
Are you passing through a night of sorrow? This thing is from Me. I am the Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief. I have let earthly comforters fail you, that by turning to Me you may obtain everlasting consolation (2 Thess. 2:16, 17). Have you longed to do some great work for Me and instead have been laid aside on a bed of pain and weakness? This thing is from Me. I could not get your attention in your busy days and I want to teach you some of my deepest lessons. “They also serve who only stand and wait.” Some of My greatest workers are those shut out from active service, that they may learn to wield the weapon of all-prayer.
This day I place in your hand this pot of holy oil. Make use of it free, my child. Let every circumstance that arises, every word that pains you, every interruption that would make you impatient, every revelation of your weakness be anointed with it. The sting will go as you learn to see Me in all things.
—Laura A. Barter Snow.

“ ‘This is from Me’, the Saviour said,
  As bending low He kissed my brow,
‘For One who loves you thus has led.
  Just rest in Me, be patient now,
Your Father knows you have need of this,
  Tho’, why perchance you cannot see.—
Grieve not for things you’ve seemed to miss.
  The thing I send is best for thee.’

“Then, looking through my tears, I plead,
  ‘Dear Lord, forgive, I did not know,
’Twill not be hard since Thou dost tread,
  Each path before me here below.
And for my good this thing must be,
  His grace sufficient for each test.
So still I’ll sing, “Whatever be
  God’s way for me is always best.” ’ ”

5 FEBRUARY

Just wages

‘And Pharaoh’s daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it.’ Exodus 2:9
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: 2 Samuel 18:24–33

If you conscientiously endeavour to bring up your children for the Lord he will pay you your wages—you shall not lose your reward. Let us begin with the lowest first. Your children will love and reverence you. Even though you should not be so successful as you could wish, yet if you thus honour the Lord, he will honour you in your children’s eyes. You will generally see them preserved from those excesses which so often wound the hearts of parents. For though it is a true and common observation that grace does not run in the blood and good people have often wicked children, yet it will generally appear that when they break out very bad and profligate in youth, they have been spoiled and neglected in childhood. Who knows but you may be made instruments of the Lord to save your children’s soul—then with what joy will you meet at the great day. But if you will not bring them up for the Lord, you will bring them up for Satan—and what wages do you think you will receive (by God’s righteous judgement) from that hard master? You must expect they will despise your authority, fly in your face and wound your hearts by their disobedience. O what a heartbreaking hour will that be. Think what David felt for Absalom [2 Samuel 18:33].

FOR MEDITATION: ‘Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it’ (Proverbs 22:6).

My dear Eliza is still spared to me, and in her attention and affection I find the best substitute (in the removal of my dear wife) that the nature of the case can possibly admit. But it is to thy mercy and blessing that I owe her attention and kindness. Accept my praise. Above all I thank thee for the causes and tokens I have to believe that thou hast called her by thy grace. Lord, keep her as the pupil of thine eye, hide her under the shadow of thy wings, reward her for her attention to me in my old age, and after a short separation, at thine appointed time, may we meet in thy presence above to part no more.
Diary, 2 February 1801 [re his adopted daughter]

SERMON: EXODUS 2:9 [3/3]