Tuesday.

CHRIST'S EXAMPLE.

TEXT I PET. II. 21.

'Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps.'

PERHAPS as you read this verse over, you will say to yourself, How can I really follow Christ's example? He is perfect and holy, whereas I sin every day. He is Lord of Heaven and earth, while I am only an ignorant girl. What real likeness can there be between Him and me? Listen, and I

will try and tell you. If Jesus Christ had remained at the right hand of God for ever, if He had never come and lived a life of poverty and humility here on earth, we might indeed have despaired of knowing

how to grow like Him. But He came and took upon Himself the very same nature as we have, though without sin, on purpose to show us how to live our everyday life. here on earth. When you think of following His example, think of Him in His cottage home at Nazareth, in Joseph's workshop. To those around Him He was just like other men. 'Is not this the carpenter's son?' they said. There was not much difference, you see, between His earthly life and yours, outwardly, and yet seen as God sees, what a difference! He went about His daily work, did the same common things as other men, lived upon the same food, wore the same clothes, and yet all the time lived the highest, noblest life that could ever be lived on earth. He tells us to try and do the same. He does not want us to live an altogether different life. He wants us to go on doing just the same kind of things—our daily duty and yet to do it all with a different motive, a different reason. For instance, a servant might do her work well for two

different reasons: one, that she might make a good servant and get higher wages, that would be a very low motive. The other, because it was the work God had given her to do, because she wanted to please Him and do His will. That would be the highest motive she could choose, the very same reason for which Christ came down on earth-even to do the will of His Father in Heaven.

Do you not see now that by thus trying also to do the will of God, your life can become every day more like the life of Christ. It does not matter whether God gives you a high or a low place to fill. He chooses a place for each, and says, 'This is my will for you. Follow the example of my beloved Son, who did my will on earth; so shall you follow Him hereafter to Heaven.'

PRAYER.

O God, forasmuch as without Thee I can do nothing, help me by Thy Holy

Spirit to follow the blessed example of my Saviour Christ. Help me to grow daily more like Him in meekness and lowliness. May I try to see what is Thy will for me, and do it with my whole heart. May I remember that nothing is too small to be done for Thy sake and for Thy glory. Grant this for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.

HYMN.

If to sinful deeds and actions
Men are tempting you,

Stop and ask yourself the question,
'What would Jesus do?'

If you long to grow more like Him
Ever day by day,

Guard your lips by thinking always,
What would Jesus say?'

If you know of sad hearts grieving
Cheerless and forlorn,

Go and try to give them comfort;
Jesus would have gone.

If you see glad hearts rejoicing
In God's Holy name,

Then rejoice in all their gladness;
Jesus did the same.

This to every doubtful question
Gives the answer true;

Try by this your words and actions,