March 21

31 And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daughter in law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.

32 And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years; and Terah died in Haran

1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get there out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:

2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee; and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

4 So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him; and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran.

5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.

6 And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land.

7 And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, 'Into thy seed will I give this land; and there hailed he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.

8 And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Beth el, and pitched his tent, having Beth el on the west, and Hat on the east; and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.

9 And Abram journeyed, going on still toward the south.

10 And there was a famine in the land; and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there; for the famine was grievous in the land.

At some time in our lives a call from God sends its trumpet tone through each of our souls, as it did when Abraham heard it, and he went forth with the future stretching broad and far before him. Abraham's emigration teaches by example precisely the same profound and universal lesson of spiritual life which Jesus taught in words: "Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple." St. Francis of Assisi, and many like him, have read this evangelical call to renounce the world too literally. Nevertheless, if we would choose and pursue the heavenly country to which God is calling us, there must be in the heart of each of us a virtual leaving of father and mother, a forsaking of all that we have, in order to be Christ's followers.

Abraham showed his faith by his prompt, unquestioning obedience. He asked no questions—required no pledges. "By faith," it is said in the Epistle to the Hebrews, "Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went." He believed that God would lead him into no mean country. It is because we distrust God's leadings that so frequently we get into places that are barren.

Closet Promise.—Everyone that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.—Matt. xix. 29.

| "For Jesus' sake," all sin forgiven! "For Jesus' sake," sweet rest! | When often like a wayward child I murmur at His will, | | --- | --- | | 'Tis this glad word has wooed and won my heart to love Him best. | Then this sweet word, "For Jesus' sake," my restless heart can still | | His praise I sing, my Lord! my King! who died my peace to make, | I bow my head; and, gently led, His easy yoke I take! | | And all the day, and all the way, an echo in my heart shall say, | And all the day, and all the way, an echo in my heart shall say, | | "For Jesus' sake." | "For Jesus' sake!" | | "For Jesus' sake!" These precious words shall be like pinions swift | In suffering sore, or toilsome task, His burden light I'll bear; | | To walk my prayers through heaven's gate, and bear each many a gift. | "For Jesus' sake" shall sweeten all, till His height be me I share; | | Each answer free God sends to me, then joyfully I'll take. | And then this song, more sweet, more strong, in heaven my heart shall wake; | | And all the day, and all the way, an echo in my heart shall say, | Led all the way, till that glad day, eternally my heart shall say, | | "For Jesus' sake!" | "For Jesus' sake." | | | —Georgiana M. Taylor. |