e sin
abounded, there grace did much more abound."

OCTOBER 17.

"Abraham believed God" (Rom. iv. 3).

Abraham's faith reposed on God Himself. He knew the God he was dealing
with. It was a personal confidence in one whom he could utterly trust.

The real secret of Abraham's whole life was that he was the friend of God,
and knew God to be his great, good and faithful Friend, and, taking Him at
His word, he had stepped out from all that he knew and loved, and gone
forth upon an unknown pathway with none but God.

Beloved, are we trusting not only in the word of God, but have we learned
to lean our whole weight upon Himself, the God of infinite love and power,
our covenant God and everlasting Friend?

We are told that Abraham glorified God by this life of faith. The true way
to glorify God is to let the world see what He is, and what He can do. God
does not want us so much to do things, as to let people see what He can
do. God is not looking for extraordinary characters as His instruments,
but He is looking for humble instruments through whom He can be honored
throughout the ages.

OCTOBER 18.

"All things are naked and open unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to
do" (Heb. iv. 13).

The literal translation of this phrase is, all things are stripped and
stunned. This is the force of the Greek words. The figure is that of an
athlete in the Coliseum who has fought his best in the arena, and has at
length fallen at the feet of his adversary, disarmed and broken down in
helplessness. There he lies, unable to strike a blow, or lift his arm. He
is stripped and stunned, disarmed and disabled, and there is nothing left
for him but to lie at the feet of his adversary and throw up his arms for
mercy.

Now this is the position that God wants to bring us to, where we shall
cease our struggles and our attempts at self-defence or self-improvement,
and throw ourselves helplessly upon the mercy of God. This is the sinner's
only hope, and when he thus lies at the feet of mercy, Jesus is ready to
lift him up and give him that free salvation which is waiting for all.

This, too, is the greatest need of the Christian seeking a deeper and
higher life, to come to a full realization of his nothingness and
helplessness, and to lie down, stripped and stunned at the feet of Jesus.

OCTOBER 19.

"Denying ungodliness" (Titus ii. 12).

Let us say, "No," to the flesh, the world and the love of self, and