June 18

14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. 16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17 For we being many are one bread, and one body; for we are all partakers of that one bread. 18 Behold Israel after the flesh; are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? 19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? 20 But I say, that the things which the Genties sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God; and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils; ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table and of the table of devils. 22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he? 23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient; all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. 24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another's for it. 25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience' sake: 26 For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. 27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever

is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience' sake.

28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience' sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: 29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience? 30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? 31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: 33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

In verse 31 of this chapter we have "The Christian's Rule of Conduct."

"Everything honors God when it is done for His sake; everything dishonors Him when any ultimate end is proposed beside His glory."—Quesnel.

"All the water is waste that runs beside the mill; so all thy thoughts and words are waste which are not to the glory of God. A bee will not sit on a flower where no honey can be sucked; neither should the Christian engage in anything but for his soul's good and God's honor."—Gurnall.

"You need not go out of your house, or shop, or profession, to do good. . . . Let no one believe that he is far from the gate of heaven who has the opportunities of the household. It is the best place in the world; and I do not think that any woman, mother or sister, who spends her life at home ministering to the wants of the loved ones there, has any occasion to envy those who sit upon thrones and occupy positions of influence. It is a sublime sphere. To provide for the family; to prepare their clothes; to watch over the little ones; to perform the duties which belong to domestic life, and to do it patiently and humbly, for the sake of Christ and in the spirit of benevolence, is glorious."—H. W. Beecher.

Closet Promise.—If ye abide in Me and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.—John xv. 7.

Abiding in Jesus isn't fixing our attention on Christ, but it is being one with Him. And it doesn't make any difference what we are doing, or whether we are asleep or awake. A man is abiding just as much when he is sleeping for Jesus as when he is awake and working for Jesus. O, it is a very sweet thing to have one's mind just resting there!—Rev. J. Hudson Taylor.