July 21

"Bring no more vain oblations."—Isaiah 1:13.

IT is not mere outward service which God asks from me.

But adoration: a sense of His awful and consummate holiness; a bowing low in heart and spirit before the sevenfold radiance of His majesty; a realising of His condescension in entering into communion with me at all. I cannot be too reverent when I am face to face with Him.

And confession: a feeling of the evil of my doings, not superficial, but deep and penetrating; an abhorring of myself, and a repentance in dust and ashes; a cry from the depths, In me dwelleth no good thing. I have need to understand more vividly, more humblingly, the exceeding sinfulness of sin.

And petition: a wrestling with the Angel, with the King, till I have power and prevail; a taking fast hold of God's almighty strength; a clinging with both hands earnestly to the Rock of Ages. Simply, naturally, explicitly, whole-heartedly, let me unbosom my necessities to Him, that He may meet and vanquish and remove them.

And thanksgiving: thanksgiving which is thanks-living also: a humble ceasing to do evil, and a patient learning to do well; a glad and grateful obedience; a bondslave's vow, "I love my Master; I will not go out free." Jesus Christ asks all, from the innermost pulsation of conscious being to the most tangible outworks of my life.

Such is the service my God will welcome—my God who hates all vain oblations, and who is wearied with mere ritualism and formality.