ufacture; it is a
fruit. It is not born of certain works; it springs out of certain
relations. It does not come from doing something; it comes from living
with Somebody. "Abide in Me." That is how love is born, for "love is of
God, and God is love."

How many people are striving who are not abiding. They live in a
manufactory, they do not live in a home. They are trying to make something
instead of to know Somebody. "This is life, to know Thee." When I am
related to the Lord Jesus, when I dwell with Him, love is as surely born
as beauty and fragrance are born when my garden and the spring-time dwell
together. If we would only wisely cultivate the fellowship of Jesus,
everything else would follow in its train--all that gracious succession of
beautiful things which are called "the fruits of the Spirit."

And "herein is our love made perfect." It is always growing richer,
because it is always drawing riches from the inexhaustible love of God.
How could it be otherwise? Endless resource must mean endless growth. "Our
life is hid with Christ in God," and hence our love will "grow in all
wisdom and discernment."

MAY The Seventh

_IN THE WAYS OF OBEDIENCE_

PSALM xix. 7-14.

Let me listen to the exquisite chimes of this wonderful psalm as they ring
out the blessedness of the man whose delight is in the law of the Lord.
What shall he find in the ways of obedience?

He shall find restoration. "Restoring the soul." He shall find new stores
of food along the way. In every emergency he shall find fresh provision;
every new need shall discover new supplies. When one store is spent,
another shall take its place. "Thou re-storest my soul." In the ways of
righteousness the good Lord has appointed ample stores for the provision
of all His faithful pilgrims.

He shall find joy. "Rejoicing the heart." In the way of obedience there
shall be springs of delight as well as stores of provision. "With joy
shall ye draw waters out of the wells of salvation." Fountains of
delicious satisfaction rise in the realm of duty, the satisfaction of
being right with God, and in union with the eternal will. There is no day
without its spring, and "the joy of the Lord is our strength."

He shall find vision. "Enlightening the eyes." The eyes of the obedient
are anointed with the eye-salve of grace, and wondrous panoramas break
upon the sight. Visions of grace! Visions of love! Visions of glory!

MAY The Eighth

_HOW NOT TO FORGE