July 18

The same light which shows us there is a God shows us He must be worshiped in holiness. Under the law, God was particular about every facet of worship. The tabernacle, for example, had to be made of the best materials; the workmen were gifted with rare talent; only the most excellent sacrifices were acceptable; and the persons who ministered to the Lord had to be holy in a peculiar way. God is wonderful in His worship!

Be consistent in all ordinances. God hates partiality, especially in ordinances of worship, all of which have their origins in Him. And surely we must not reject anything God chooses as a blessing to His children. He communicates Himself with amazing variety to keep our hearts encouraged. The spouse looks for her Beloved in secret at home but does not find him; so she goes to the public places and meets him whom her "soul loveth" (Song of Solomon 3:4).

No doubt Daniel had been to the throne of grace often, but God reserved the fullness of His love, and the opening of some mysteries to him, when he added fasting to his prayers. Only then did God send a messenger from heaven to let Daniel know His mind and heart.

The Holy Spirit sometimes gives more blessing in some duties than He does in others, to fill the Christian with extraordinary refreshment. Sometimes the baby takes milk from one breast and then from the other. While David was meditating, a heavenly heat kindled in his heart until at last the fire caught and spread. The eunuch was reading the Word when God sent Philip to join his chariot. Christ revealed Himself to the apostles as they were breaking bread. And He joined the two disciples on the road to Emmaus as they were having fellowship with each other. Cornelius was praying in his house when a vision from heaven directed him in the way he should walk.

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