June 25

“Then He said to Moses–Come up to the Lord.” — Exod 24:1

God is always far above us. We can get nearer to him only by rising out of sin and earthliness, into holier, purer life. It was not easy to climb up the steep side of Sinai; it is not easy to rise nearer to God. It costs pain and struggle. We must make stepping-stones of our dead selves–if we would ascend in life and character. We must climb upward step by step.

Jacob saw life visioned before him as a ladder. That is the true vision in every case, not a level path, through grassy meadows–but rocky steps up a mountain-side. We sing:

“Nearer, my God! to you, Nearer to Thee!

E’en though it be a cross, That raises me!”

A child lay dying, and said plaintively, “Lift me higher! Lift me higher!” The father took the little one in his arms, and lifted her up high as he could raise her, as she continued to plead, with failing strength, “Lift me higher!” Soon she was gone, lifted out of her earthly father’s trembling arms, into the bosom of her heavenly Father. On the child’s grave they cut her name and the words: “Lifted higher!” God wants us all to come up to him, to get closer to him, to be lifted higher into life’s better things.