January 9
Who maketh thee to differ from another? And what hast thou that thou didst not receive? — 1 Cor. 4:7.
All of the Lord's consecrated people should realize that they have come into the present grace and truth, not by their own wisdom nor by the wisdom of others, but through the wisdom and grace of the Lord. The same thought should be entertained by all who serve the people of God as ministers, servants in any department, in any manner responsible to the Lord for their position in the household of faith, and their opportunities to serve as the Lord's mouthpieces should be felt and confessed. But failure to confess it implies a failure rightly to appreciate it—Z '03, 430 (R 3277). Our differing from others in the important things in life (whether in talents, station or privilege with respect to God's service) comes not from ourselves, but from God. It is He who makes us to differ one from the other. Humility, therefore, is the proper attitude of mind toward our position in the Lord's service. Boasting is excluded, because all is a favor from Him—P '30, 14. Parallel passages: Jas. 1:17; John 3:27; 1 Cor. 12:11; Rom. 12:3, 6; 1 Pet. 4:10; Eph. 2:8, 9; Phil. 2:13; Mic. 6:8; Matt. 5:3; Luke 14:11; 17:10; 22:24-27; 1 Cor. 1:28, 29. Hymns: 95, 11, 46, 99, 121, 176, 293. Poems of Dawn, 81: His Way is Best. Tower Reading: Z '13, 231 (R 5284). Questions: What were this week's experiences in line with this text? How were they met? In what did they result? |
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HIS WAY IS BEST
JUST why I suffer loss
I cannot know;
I only know my Father
Wills it so.
He leads in paths I cannot understand;
But all the way, I know, is wisely planned.
My life is only mine
That I may use
The gifts He lendeth me
As He may choose.
And, if in love some boon He doth recall,
I know that unto Him belongeth all.
I am His child, and I
Can safely trust;
He loves me, and I know
That He is just;
Within His love I can securely rest,
Assured that what He does for me is best.
JUST why I suffer loss
I cannot know;
I only know my Father
Wills it so.
He leads in paths I cannot understand;
But all the way, I know, is wisely planned.
My life is only mine
That I may use
The gifts He lendeth me
As He may choose.
And, if in love some boon He doth recall,
I know that unto Him belongeth all.
I am His child, and I
Can safely trust;
He loves me, and I know
That He is just;
Within His love I can securely rest,
Assured that what He does for me is best.
