January 29

Your labour is not in pain in the Lord. — 1 COR. xv. 58.

Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. — MATT. xxv. 21.

GOD has the highest possible claim to our services, and his claim is universal and constant. No peculiarity of natural endowment, great or small, nor diversity of opportunity or means of doing good, works any change in the matter of personal responsibility. All power and means of doing good are the gift of God, and to meet our obligations all must be consecrated to his services.

Christ teaches us that the grandest possibilities are wrapped up in every human life; that by the right improvement of the talents given, be they ten or one, we shall by and by become rulers over many things and enter into the joy of our Lord: that constant devotion to God is the true philosophy of a successful life: "For what shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" Happy then the man who recognizes the will of God as the rule of his every-day life. It may, it will, require sacrifice, possible suffering, and failure in many worldly enterprises and prospects, but fidelity to God is assured success. To the faithful servant of God triumph is not far off. To-day improve the talents given; to-morrow the Master will say, "Well done," for the "Judge standeth at the door."

Mark Staple

Oh, may I, no longer dreaming,

Idly waste my golden day.

But, each precious hour redeeming.

Upward, onward, press my way!

H. BONAR.