Part 55 (1/2)

Let me listen to this psalm of reconciliation, as it makes music for my soul to-day.

It tells me of the Divine favour. ”_Lord, Thou hast been favourable to Thy land._” As I write these words, the sun has just slipped out from behind the cloud. It has been there all the time, but the ministry of the cloud was needed, and so it appeared as though there would be sun and spring no more. ”Behind a frowning Providence He hides a smiling face.”

And it tells me of the Divine forgiveness. ”_Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of Thy people._” Yes, when the sun appears, He loosens the frozen earth and streams, and turns the bondage into liberty. The soul that was imprisoned in freezing guilt attains a joyous freedom.

And it tells me of revival. ”_Wilt Thou not revive us again?_” It is the next step in the returning spring. The sleeping, benumbed things will all awake! ”The flowers appear on the earth.” Where grace reigns, graces spring! Forgiveness is attended by renewal, and the wilderness begins to ”blossom like the rose.”

NOVEMBER The Sixteenth

_THE MAKING OF A BRAVE MAN_

ACTS iv. 13-22.

Here is a marvellous transformation! I have been wondering at the littleness of the denier, and now this same denier is making the world wonder by his majestic boldness! His one resource is now the risen Christ, and his one moral standard is ”whether it be right!” Once he quailed before an accusing maid; now he stands undaunted before the rulers of the earth. How has it all come about?

He has been to the empty tomb. The awe of the resurrection is upon his spirit. Through the once blind cul-de-sac of the grave he has seen the King and the great white throne.

And he has been by the lake on the morning of reconciliation. The live coal from the altar of his Lord's love has touched him and has purged away the uncleanness of his denial.

And he has been in the upper room at Pentecost, and the mighty Spirit has come upon him like wind and flame, endowing him with forceful and enthusiastic character. Now he can dare for G.o.d, now he can work for G.o.d, now he can burn for G.o.d! And this is how he has been transformed.

NOVEMBER The Seventeenth

_IF G.o.d BE FOR US----!_

ROMANS viii. 31-39.

Who else is worth naming? How much does anybody count? If the sun be on my side, why should I be dismayed at any icy obstacle that may rear itself in my way? Sun _versus_ ice! G.o.d _versus_ my impediments! Why should I fear?

If the atmosphere is on my side, then even the opposing strength of iron will rust away into powder. ”The breath of the Lord bloweth upon it,” and if the holy breath, G.o.d's Holy Spirit, is for us, then the apparently invincible obstacle will crumble away into dust.

But we are deceived by ma.s.s, and we are forgetful of spirit. Mere size affrights us. We are dismayed by numbers. We forget the quiet, pervasive, all-powerful ministry of the Spirit of G.o.d. We are overwhelmed by the phenomena of tempest and earthquake and fire, and we forget that almightiness hides in the ”still, small voice,” in ”the sound of a gentle stillness.” G.o.d's breath is more than the fierce threatenings of embattled hosts. ”If G.o.d be for us, who can be against us?” I will hide myself in His holy fellows.h.i.+p, and ”none shall make me afraid.”

NOVEMBER The Eighteenth

_EXHILARANT SPIRITS_

”_He maketh my feet like hinds' feet._”

--PSALM xviii. 31-39.