May 22nd.
Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in nowise lose his reward. Matt. x. 42.
We are in danger of looking too far for opportunities of doing good and communicating. In reaching for rhododendrons we trample down the daisies.—Selected.
May 23rd.
Hide thyself by the brook. 1 Kings xvii. 3.
Not by the river, but by the brook. The river would always contain an abundant supply, but the brook might dry up at any moment.
What does this teach us? God does not place His people in luxuriance here. The world's abundance might withdraw their affections from Him. He gives them not the river, but the brook. The brook may be running to-day, to-morrow it may be dried up.
And wherefore does God act thus? To teach us that we are not to rest in His gifts and blessings, but in Himself. This is what our hearts are always doing—resting in the gift, instead of the Giver. Therefore God cannot trust us by the river, for it unconsciously takes up His place in the heart. It is said of Israel that when they were full they forgot God.—F. Whitfield.
May 24th.
His kingdom ruleth over all. Psa. ciii. 19.