Friday. [Eph. 1:7-17; Mark 8:1-10]

   Having filled four thousand with seven loaves of bread, the Lord straightway entered into a ship, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha as if nothing particular was done. Such is the true doing of good—to do it continually, not paying attention to what has been done, and always forgetting what is past, to stretch towards what is ahead. This comes naturally for those who are filled with goodness. Just as a strong man lifts heavy weights without noticing while a weak man who has lifted up a small weight cannot seem to forget it, so one who is strong in goodness does every good without strain, whenever the occasion arises, while one who is poor in goodness cannot manage without straining. He remembers the good, and he keeps looking back and glancing at it. A good heart craves to do good, and is not satisfied until it has done good in abundance, as a man is not satisfied until he has eaten his fill. While hunger is felt, dinner is remembered, but when the hunger is satisfied, all is forgotten: so with a truly good person a good deed is remembered while it is not yet done; but once it is done, it is forgotten.

Thursday. [Eph. 1:1-9; Mark 7:24-30]

   What moved the Syrophenician woman to come to the Lord and be so persistent in her petition? The shape of her convictions which had formed—she was convinced that the Saviour had power to heal her daughter and she came to Him; she was convinced that He would not leave her petition without fulfilment, and she would not stop asking. Convictions are the sum total of all of life, upbringing, current thinking, impressions from surroundings, from teachings received and various incidents and activities in life. One’s thoughts work under the influence of all this, and come to certain convictions. Meanwhile one must keep in mind that God’s truth is everywhere, and from everywhere crowds into the soul of man. Truth lies in the heart of man; God’s truth is imprinted in all creatures. There is God’s truth in the customs and dispositions of man; it is also in his teachings to a greater or lesser degree. But falsehood is everywhere as well. He who is of the truth gathers the truth, and is full of true, saving convictions. Whereas he who is not of the truth gathers lies and is full of false convictions, and fatal delusions. Whether a person is of the truth or not of the truth—let everyone examine for himself; but meanwhile God’s judgment awaits everyone.…