June 24

"For even Christ pleased not Himself."—Romans 15:3.

EVEN Christ pleased not Himself. And Christ is the Standard and Pattern of my life.

He stooped to the little children—He who is the Lord of glory and the Prince of the kings of the earth. He took them up in His arms, and called them by their names, and breathed over them His blessing. So let me carry the young lamb's heart among the full-grown flocks.

He suffered long with backward disciples. He gave them line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, and there a little of the Word of Life. He never lost patience with them—never once, however they might provoke Him. So let me bear and forbear.

He welcomed timid and doubting souls. When one came to Him by night, He did not rebuke his fearfulness, but took him and expounded to him the salvation of God. So let me encourage the feeblest seeker after truth; I once groped in the dim twilight myself.

He hoped for the worst. The woman of the city, and the grasping tax-gatherer, and the robber on the tree—He hated their sin, but He redeemed and saved themselves. The jewel had fallen into the mire, and was all encrusted with foulness; but to His eyes it was a jewel still. So let me despair of none.

He loved His enemies. Father, forgive them, He prayed almost with His latest breath. Nothing could kill or destroy His exceeding grace. Nothing could vanquish His blessed optimism. So let me overcome evil with good, and out of ruins help to raise temples to the glory of God.

Would that I might rise to this height of Christliness.