II Corinthians 4:5-7
"For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, Who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us."
October 25th
"...whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8
Start SCREENING (2). Stop your thoughts! What are you thinking? Is it of God and the interests of His Spirit? Is it in your own SPIRITUAL interests? IF not, cast it aside: substitute a spiritual, UPlifting trend of thought. Or maybe you have difficulty in keeping your mind on the things of Spirit? If so, start committing to memory picked portions of Scripture. Choose such as to you are spiritually inspiring. The writer especially advises parts or all of John's Gospel: chapters 14 to 17 inclusive. By the time you have these four chapters memorized, you will find it much easier to keep your mind in the channel of SPIRIT.
Then there are those who would reply: "My work is not 8 but may be 12 to 16 hours every day: I just have NO time to devote to the spiritual phase of my life!"
Here are two things to be said. First and foremost, MOST of such cases are predicated on a totally WRONG concept of life: the misconception that progress comes by dint of numerous hours toiled. Such should pray to be given a rationalized and BALANCED perspective of the spiritual POSSIBILITIES for them in life. Secondly, ALL time given to work does not necessarily preclude a WESTWARD orientation and a spiritual backdrop to the activities. A person can so train one's thoughts and attitude that there is a SPIRITUAL interpenetration SUPERSEDING the purely materialistic. The housewife can hum a spiritual melody as an inspiration to herself instead of having the radio blaring its usual profitless inanity.... The businessman can REplace much of his purely selfishly oriented thinking-time by dwelling on the GOOD and the NEEDS of his friends, of his employees and patrons, and how he may use his business as a means of shedding spiritual LIGHT and GOOD into the life of others. And the same applies largely in the life of professionals whose time is PRESSED into the service of one's fellow man.
The Tabernacle #2 (continued tomorrow...)