March 1

Third Friday after Epiphany

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. 2 Corinthians 13:5.

WHAT is our faith? Would it resist unto blood striving against sin? We cannot tell. The final perseverance of any soul is known only to God. But this assuredly we can tell, whether it entails upon us any daily self-denial and any conflict with the world. "May God give us grace to receive these thoughts into our hearts, and to display the fruit of them in our conduct! What are we but simple dust and ashes, grovellers who are creeping on to heaven, not with any noble sacrifice, but without pain, without trouble, in the midst of worldly blessings? … Well, but He can save, in the humblest path of life and in the most tranquil times." Yes, the form of the Son of God can be seen with the Christian in the quiet path of life as well as in the midst of the furnace; and His presence is in very deed as much needed in the one as in the other, if our walk as well as our conflict is to be as it becomes the Gospel. Let us pray, then, for His presence, that He may be with us as He has been with our brethren who have borne the burden and heat of the day.

Lord, guide our doubtful feet aright,

And keep us in Thy ways;

And, while we turn our vows to prayers,

Turn Thou our prayers to praise.

* (Bend not thy light-desiring eyes below;

There thy own shadow waits upon thee ever,

But raise thy looks to heaven, and lo!

The shadeless sun rewards thy weak endenvour, Who sees the dark, is dark; but turn towards the light, And thou becom'st like that which fills thy sight.)