May 3Strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil — Heb. 5:14.
Those who have real and sincere faith in God are willing to take Him at His word; and with these the first principles of the doctrine should long ago have been established; much of the superstructure of gold and silver and precious stones should already be erected, and the work be steadily progressing. Such are able, if they are loyal and true to God, to discern between truth and error. We ought to know what we believe and why we believe it, and then should be bold and uncompromising in declaring it; for "if the trumpet give an uncertain sound who shall prepare himself to the battle?"—Z '03, 167 (R 3199). As the natural babes have not physical organs sufficiently strong to digest strong meat, neither have the spiritual babes organs sufficiently strong to assimilate strong spiritual meat. One must be well developed in Christ properly to assimilate the deepest truths, and such a development is attained, only by a constant exercise of the mental, moral and religious faculties in spiritual respects. Like the natural, the spiritual muscles are strengthened by exercise—P '34, 62. Parallel passages: Jer. 15:16; Ezek. 3:3; Amos 8:11-13; Rom. 16:19; 1 Cor. 2:6-16; 13:11; 14:20; 1 Pet. 2:2; Psa. 119:99; 131:2; Eph. 3:5; 4:13-15; Col. 3:16; 2 Tim. 3:15-17; Heb. 6:1; 2 Pet. 3:16, 18; Jas. 1:18-25. Hymns: 296, 154, 49, 22, 311, 315, 332 Poems of Dawn, 8: How Readest Thou? Tower Reading: Z '15, 151 (R 5688). Questions: How have this week's experiences corroborated this text? What good did I get from them? |
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HOW READEST THOU?
LUKE 10:16
'TIS one thing now to read the Bible through,
Another thing to read, to learn and do;
'Tis one thing now to read it with delight,
And quite another thing to read it right.
Some read it with design to learn to read,
But to the subject pay but little heed;
Some read it as their duty once a week,
But no instruction from the Bible seek;
Whilst others read it without common care,
With no regard to how they read or where.
Some read it as a history, to know
How people lived three thousand years ago.
Some read to bring unto themselves repute,
By showing others how they can dispute;
Whilst others read because their neighbors do,
To see how long 'twill take to read it through.
Some read it for the wonders that are there,
How David killed a lion and a bear;
Whilst others read—or rather in it look—
Because, perhaps, they have no other book.
Some read the blessed Book—they don't know why,
It somehow happens in the way to lie;
Whilst others read it with uncommon care,
But all to find some contradictions there.
One reads with father's specs upon his head,
And sees the thing just as his father did;
Another reads through Campbell or through Scott,
And thinks it means exactly what they thought.
Some read to prove a pre-adopted creed,
Thus understand but little what they read;
And every passage in the Book they bend
To make it suit that all-important end.
Some read the Book to find that God is love,
Whilst others read—the opposite to prove.
Some people read, as I have often thought,
To teach the Book, instead of being taught.
LUKE 10:16
'TIS one thing now to read the Bible through,
Another thing to read, to learn and do;
'Tis one thing now to read it with delight,
And quite another thing to read it right.
Some read it with design to learn to read,
But to the subject pay but little heed;
Some read it as their duty once a week,
But no instruction from the Bible seek;
Whilst others read it without common care,
With no regard to how they read or where.
Some read it as a history, to know
How people lived three thousand years ago.
Some read to bring unto themselves repute,
By showing others how they can dispute;
Whilst others read because their neighbors do,
To see how long 'twill take to read it through.
Some read it for the wonders that are there,
How David killed a lion and a bear;
Whilst others read—or rather in it look—
Because, perhaps, they have no other book.
Some read the blessed Book—they don't know why,
It somehow happens in the way to lie;
Whilst others read it with uncommon care,
But all to find some contradictions there.
One reads with father's specs upon his head,
And sees the thing just as his father did;
Another reads through Campbell or through Scott,
And thinks it means exactly what they thought.
Some read to prove a pre-adopted creed,
Thus understand but little what they read;
And every passage in the Book they bend
To make it suit that all-important end.
Some read the Book to find that God is love,
Whilst others read—the opposite to prove.
Some people read, as I have often thought,
To teach the Book, instead of being taught.
