September 23

Ye shall observe to do therefore as the Lord, your God, hath commanded you; ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. Deuteronomy 5:32.

A common temptation for a Christian is: Why insist so strictly upon every letter of God's commandments? If the narrow path leads up hill, why not use a little tact and judgment occasionally and go around the hill? Why should I exclude myself from all contact with the world?

Have you sometimes thought that you ought to yield to such temptations of the flesh? Oh, then be warned! What a dangerous mistake that would be! It would at once enmesh you in the greatest of difficulties. Behold the consequences of following God's Word, but not following it alone! There is a minister, for instance, who insists upon submitting to every word of Holy Scripture in doctrine and life; but in one point he weakens. He fears that if he opposes some of the unchristian societies, his congregation will not grow. He admits members belonging to such societies, or rather suffers them to be admitted, and before he is aware of it, the lodge-members are the ruling power in his congregation. — There is a young lady who is a regular attendant at church and who obeys her parents. She also avoids bad company — except the company of one, without whom she thinks she cannot live. A marriage ensues, and soon, for the sake of the ungodly husband, the promising Christian has fallen from the faith. — There is a Christian whose soul is filled with the love of Christ. But he makes one little mistake. He thinks that every fellow-Christian must love

Christ with the same zeal, the same sincerity, and the same faithfulness as he himself. And when he finds that his fellow-Christians still have serious faults, he is embittered against them and begins to loathe their company, and before he is aware of it, he finds himself estranged from the church and his Savior.

These examples warn us not to follow our own inclinations. But oh, how simple and easy everything becomes if we decide to be guided by nothing but by God's Word alone!

Prayer.

O Lord Jesus Christ, Thou art everywhere, and Thy kingdom reigns supreme. But we are still pilgrims in this vale of tears, in a world that lies in wickedness and which Thou didst overcome, as Thou Thyself hast said. Where, now, is the way that takes us safely through to Thee? How shall we, O Lord, find this way unless Thou, by Thy Spirit, dost teach us and by Him dost lead us to follow Thy Word, and Thy Word alone? What else can comfort us when the day of trial comes, when afflictions and temptations are at hand? Let Thy Word be unto us the Joy and Rejoicing of our hearts. Amen.

May Thy rich grace impart Strength to my fainting heart, My zeal inspire. As Thou hast died for me, O may my love for Thee Pure, warm, and changeless be, A living fire!