A collection of scriptures with appropriate quotations for every day in the year.
- 0606.March.Monday
March 6
I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound — Phil. 4:11, 12.
If we find our experiences in life very checkered, we may conclude that the Lord sees that we need both the heights and depths of prosperity and adversity to properly instruct us and qualify us for the position He designs for us in the future. Let us, then, as the Apostle did, learn how to abound, not allowing the abundance of earthly good things to swerve us from our consecration vows; and let us learn also how to be in want (need) and yet not to want anything beyond what the Lord's wisdom and providence see best to give—to be content—Z '03, 10 (R 3129).
To be contented under all circumstances is a glorious achievement, and is an ideal toward which the Lord's people should constantly strive. Few indeed are they, who can suffer abasement contentedly, still fewer are they who can receive success contentedly. It is only through many experiences of abasement and exaltation that we learn to receive all things contentedly—P '30, 30.
Parallel passages: Psa. 37:7; Prov. 16:8; 17:1, 22; 30:8; Eccles. 4:6; 5:12; Luke 3:14; 1 Cor. 7:20, 24; 2 Cor. 6:9, 10; 1 Tim. 6:6-12; Heb. 13:5, 6; Psa. 16:6; 37:7, 16; Prov. 14:14; 15:13, 15, 30.
Hymns: 50, 94, 15, 170, 176, 179, 244.
Poems of Dawn, 297: Our Father's at the Helm.
Tower Reading: Z '98, 243 (R 2351).
Questions: What have been this week's experiences as to this text? In what did they result?OUR FATHER'S AT THE HELM
THE boisterous waves with awful roar
A little boat assailed,
And pallid fear's distracting power
O'er all on board prevailed.
Save one, the captain's darling child,
Who steadfast viewed the storm;
And, cheerful, with composure smiled
At danger's threatening form.
"Do you feel safe," a seaman cried,
"While terrors overwhelm?"
"Why should I fear?" the boy replied—
"My father's at the helm."
So when our worldly all is reft,
Our earthly helpers gone,
We still have one true anchor left—
God helps, and He alone.
He to our prayers will bend an ear,
He gives our pains relief;
He turns to smiles each trembling tear,
To joy each torturing grief.
Then turn to Him 'mid sorrows wild,
When want and woes o'erwhelm,
Remembering, like the fearless child,
Our Father's at the helm!March 12
The end of the commandment is love from a pure heart, and a good conscience, and an undissembled faith — 1 Tim. 1:5.
We are to have clearly before our minds the fact that the ultimate object of all the Divine dealings for us and with us, and the ultimate significance of all the Divine promises made to us, is the development of love, which is Godlikeness, for God is love. And to have this love developed in us, in the sense and to the degree intended by the Lord, it is necessary that it shall come from a pureheart, in full accord with the Lord and His law of love, and wholly antagonistic to the Adversary and his law of selfishness—Z '00, 360 (R 2733).
The beautiful attributes of the ripe Christian character, like those of God's character, consist of wisdom, justice, love and power. While these characteristics support one another, the one that shines out the brightest among them is love; the object of the other three is its development; and the ultimate goal of character development is the supremacy of Divine love, in harmony with, supported by, and flowing out of wisdom, justice and power—P '36, 31.
Parallel passages: Matt. 7:12; Rom. 13:8-10; John 13:35; Eph. 1:4; Gal. 5:14; Col. 3:14; 1 Cor. 13; Jas. 2:8; 1 John 3:18, 19; 1 Pet. 1:22; 3:8; 4:8; Heb. 9:14; Acts 15:8, 9; 1 Cor. 6:11; Titus 3:5; Phil. 2:13.
Hymns: 201, 165, 105, 125, 154, 130, 1.
Poems of Dawn, 79: Love's Alchemy.
Tower Reading: Z '15, 261 (R 5755).Questions: What has this text done to me? How? What helped or hindered? What were the circumstances? What were the results?
LOVE'S ALCHEMY
LOVE is the filling from one's own
Another's cup.
Love is a daily laying down
And taking up;
A choosing of the stony path
Through each new day
That other feet may tread with ease
A smoother way.
Love is not blind, but looks abroad
Through other eyes;
And asks not "Must I give?" but "May
I sacrifice?"
Love hides its grief, that other hearts
And lips may sing;
And burdened, walks, that other lives
May, buoyant, wing.
Brother, hast thou a love like this
Within thy soul?
'Twill change thy name to saint when thou
Dost reach thy goal.
