September 8Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God. Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God — Jas. 4:4.
God has purposely placed the matter in such a position that His people must take their choice, and lose either the Divine friendship and fellowship, or the worldly friendship and fellowship; because those things which the Lord loves are distasteful to the worldly, and those things which the worldly love, evil deeds and evil thoughts, evil-speaking, are an abomination in the sight of the Lord, and those who love and practice such things lose His fellowship—they are not of His Spirit. "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his"—Z '99, 70 (R 2442). The friendship of this world implies the good will, approval and confidence that those who are in harmony with the present order of affairs give others; and because the present order is out of harmony with the principles of the Divine character and government, the world withholds friendship from the Lord's people and bestows it upon those who love the present order. The worldly are at heart at enmity with God. Since there is no friendship between them, to obtain the friendship of the world of necessity implies that we become at enmity with God. This is too costly a price to pay for the world's friendship—P '32, 136. Parallel passages: 1 Sam. 8:19, 20; Psa. 49:16-18; 73:2-22; Eccles. 2:1-12; 11:9, 10; Matt. 16:26; Luke 8:14; John 15:19; Rom. 12:2; 1 Cor. 7:29-31; 2 Tim. 3:2-8; 1 John 2:15-17. Hymns: 312, 48, 97, 109, 115, 162, 192. Poems of Dawn, 48: A Solitary Way. Tower Reading: Z '11, 56 (R 4765). Questions: Was I this week worldly or spiritual? Why was I so? How did I become so? What was the result? A SOLITARY WAY
PSA. 107:1-9; PROV. 14:10; 1 COR. 2:11. THERE is a mystery in human hearts, And though we be encircled by a host Of those who love us well, and are beloved, To every one of us, from time to time, There comes a sense of utter loneliness. Our dearest friend is "stranger" to our joy, And cannot realize our bitterness. "There is not one who really understands, Not one to enter into all I feel;" Such is the cry of each of us in turn. We wander in a "solitary way," No matter what or where our lot may be, Each heart, mysterious even to itself, Must live its inner life of solitude. JOB 7:17; MATT. 10:37. And would you know the reason why this is? It is because the Lord desires our love. In every heart He wishes to be first. He therefore keeps the secret-key Himself, To open all its chambers, and to bless With perfect sympathy and holy peace Each solitary soul which comes to Him. So when we feel this loneliness, it is The voice of Jesus saying, "Come to Me;" And every time we are "not understood," It is a call to us to come again; For Christ alone can satisfy the soul, And those who walk with Him from day to day Can never have "a solitary way." ISA. 48:16; PSA. 34:22. And when beneath some heavy cross you faint, And say, "I cannot bear this load alone," You say the truth. Christ made it purposely So heavy that you must return to Him The bitter grief, which "no one understands," Conveys a secret message from the King, Entreating you to come to Him again. The Man of Sorrows understands it well. In all points tempted, He can feel with you. You cannot come too often, or too near. The Son of God is infinite in grace; His presence satisfies the longing soul; And those who walk with Him from day to day Can never have "a solitary way." |
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