February 25Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God — Matt. 4:4.
We are to learn the lesson that a man's life consists not in the abundance of things which he possesses—food and raiment—but that his life, in the fullest, grandest, highest sense, is dependent upon his complete submission to the Divine will—his careful attention to every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God—every admonition, every encouragement, every promise, is necessary to the development of those whom God is now calling to eternal life as heirs with His Son in the Kingdom. Let us then, more and more, as the disciples, pupils, of the Lord Jesus, keep in memory and act upon the suggestion of the words of this text—Z '02, 246, 248 (R 3058). A man's life consists not in the abundance of the earthly things he enjoys. The things that really count, both in giving and sustaining life, are the teachings of the Word of God. Greatly mistaken, therefore, are those who seek to sustain their lives with sin through earthly things. Since to responsive and obedient hearts the Word of God is spirit and life, it is to them powerful and life-giving—P '32, 15. Parallel passages: Deut. 8:3; Psa. 17:4; 19:7-11; 43:3; 107:19, 20; 119:11, 14, 24, 25, 28, 41, 54, 69, 72, 77, 81, 92, 93, 103, 144, 159, 173, 174; Isa. 30:21; Jer. 15:16; Ezek. 3:3; Amos 8:11, 12; Matt. 7:24-27; Luke 11:28; John 5:24, 39; 15:3; 20:31; Acts 20:32; 1 Tim. 4:5, 6. Hymns: 22, 332, 264, 49, 296, 79, 311. Poems of Dawn, 52: He Leadeth Me. Tower Reading: Z '11, 387 (R 4896). Questions: By what have I been living this week? How? Why? With what results? |
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"HE LEADETH ME"
IN pastures green? Not always; sometimes He
Who knoweth best, in kindness leadeth me
In weary ways, where heavy shadows be.
Out of the sunshine, warm and soft and bright,
Out of the sunshine into darkest night;
I oft would faint with terror and with fright,
Only for this—I know He holds my hand;
So, whether in the green or desert land,
I trust, although I may not understand.
And by still waters? No, not always so;
Ofttimes the heavy tempests round me blow,
And o'er my soul the waves and billows go.
But when the storm beats loudest, and I cry
Aloud for help, the Master standeth by,
And whispers to my soul, "Lo, it is I!"
Above the tempest wild I hear Him say,
"Beyond this darkness lies the perfect day,
In every path of thine I lead the way."
So, whether on the hill-tops, high and fair,
I dwell, or in the sunless valleys, where
The shadows lie—what matter? He is there.
And more than this, where'er the pathway lead,
He gives to me no helpless, broken reed,
But His own hand, sufficient for my need.
So, where He leads me I can safely go;
And in the blest hereafter I shall know,
Why, in His wisdom, He hath led me so.
IN pastures green? Not always; sometimes He
Who knoweth best, in kindness leadeth me
In weary ways, where heavy shadows be.
Out of the sunshine, warm and soft and bright,
Out of the sunshine into darkest night;
I oft would faint with terror and with fright,
Only for this—I know He holds my hand;
So, whether in the green or desert land,
I trust, although I may not understand.
And by still waters? No, not always so;
Ofttimes the heavy tempests round me blow,
And o'er my soul the waves and billows go.
But when the storm beats loudest, and I cry
Aloud for help, the Master standeth by,
And whispers to my soul, "Lo, it is I!"
Above the tempest wild I hear Him say,
"Beyond this darkness lies the perfect day,
In every path of thine I lead the way."
So, whether on the hill-tops, high and fair,
I dwell, or in the sunless valleys, where
The shadows lie—what matter? He is there.
And more than this, where'er the pathway lead,
He gives to me no helpless, broken reed,
But His own hand, sufficient for my need.
So, where He leads me I can safely go;
And in the blest hereafter I shall know,
Why, in His wisdom, He hath led me so.
