SUNDAY COLUMN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 46, 3 December 1938, Page 3

SUNDAY COLUMN

NEWS OF THE CHURCHES. (Conducted by the Ashburton Ministers’ Association). THINGS BROKEN. God uses most for His glory those people and tilings which arc most perfectly broken. Tine saorilices He accepts arc broken and contrite hearts. It was the thorough breaking down of Jacob’s natural strength at Peniel that got him where God could clothe him with spiritual powler. It was when the three hundred elect soldiers under Gideon broke their pitchers, type of breaking themselves, that the hidden lights shone forth, to the consernation of their adversaries. It was when the poor widow broke the seal of the little pot of oil and poured it forth', that God multiplied it to pay her debts and supply means of support. It was when Esther risked her life and broke through the rigid etiquette of a heathen court, that she obtained favtHJr to rescue her people from death. ItwfMiswhen Jesus took the five loaves and hrabsstheni, the bread was multiplied in theory act of breaking, sufficient to fcled nV^thousand. It was when Mary broke beautiful alabaster box, rendering dt., thenceforth useless, that the pent-up filled the whole house. It was ~ * when Jesus allowed His precious Body'' to he broken to pieces by thorns, and nails and spar, that His inner life was poured out, like a crystal ocean for thirsty sinners.

It is when a beautiful grain of corn is broken up in the earth by death, that its inner heart sprouts forth and hears hundreds of other grains. And thus, oil and-on, through all history iand biography*, and all vegetation, and all spiritual life, God must have broken things. Those who are broken in wealth, and broken in self-will, and broken in their ambitions, and broken in their beautiful ideals, and broken in worldly reputation, and broken in their affections, and broken ofton-times in health, and those who are despised, and seem utterly helpless and forlorn, the Holy Spirit is seizing upon, and using for God’s glory. It is “the lame that take the prey,” Isaiah tells us. It is the weak that overcome the devil. God is waiting to take hold of our failures and nothingness and shine through them, and to use us for His Own Glory if we will let Him.

CHRIST’S TERM OF DISCIPLESHIP. Our Lord Jesus Christ made it clear on several occasions that He did not wish anyone to become one of His disciples without first counting the cost. Here He makes a. very emphatic statement. 1 wonder how many oi ns sec and recognise the blessedness ot being one of His disciples! Illustration —Suppose an artist is talking io his pupil; lie says: hat a fine score for a picture!” The pupil, looking, says: “1 really don’t sec it.” “But. man, don’t you really wish you did r'” May you sec what a fine thing it is to he a disciple of Jesus. “If tany man will,” etc. This will is a strong word, not a mere wish-, lmt a fixed purpose—a determination. Is it a settled thing with you to go in foi God’s best:-' Then do three tilings. !. Deny Yourself. This verb “deny’’ may make two objectives. You may deny yourself something as butter to your, bread oi sugar to your tea, etc., etc. ; or you may deny yourself. This is not ordinary self-denial, but a denial or ignoring of yourself, setting yourself aside; when matters are to be settled you are not there. Illustration: —You are asked to take a class in the Sabbath School and you say “I don’t like that” or “I never did that.” “I think so-and-so could do better than I could.” See tine I. I. J. But you deny yourself and say: “I have not the settling of this. Lord what wilt Thou have me to do?”',

The secret of a fruitless life is stated by the 'Master: “Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die it abideth alone.” Kpfuse to die as to self and you remain alone—you go to heaven by yourself. But if—here is the crux —you die, let your life be limit'd, hidden from men —there will he much fruit. Save your .life for yourself and it is lost—lint lost* it for Christ and it is saved. Our Lord Jesus Christ lived this life and taught it. He said; ‘T do not Mine own works,” “As ] hear I judge—the judgment is not Mine.” “As the Father hath taught Me so I speak.’ Where is there room for any murmuring in such a life?

11. Take up your Cross Daily. This is not what is usually understood by cross-bearing. In one home L an invalid child ; you have a physical weakness; another has a serious loss in business. But you cannot help these. There they are in spite of you. The cross to which Jesus refers is a matter of choice. It was a .shameful and painful thing to hear a. cross, and it means so to-day—a losing ol your reputation ; hearing o r doing things unpleasant to the flesh ; or the giving up of things pleasant and agreeable for the sake of Christ and His Gospel. If thy right eye cause thee to stumble, thy light hand or foot, away with them. Settle it—if you have not gone to the Funeral of slelf, you will not take up the cross daily. HI. Follow Me. This is Christ's stated plait for service : “If any man serve Me, let him follow Me.” Ignoring self, taking up the cross daily and following Jesus, what will happen? You will get such a revelation of the blessed, glorified Lord that your heart will become charmed and enraptured with Him and you will not bear to lose sight of Him. you will never want to live any other life, hut the life of closely following Him. and you will not hear to lose sight of Him, or be without His smile and approval. Following Him you will enjoy His peace. His love and joy. His power, His meekness and gentleness, His hatred of sin and His zeal for Cod.

Samuel R.uthorford of Scotland said: "Oil! that i could blaze out for Thee, When I am dying, how glad I shall he That the lamp of mv life luis been blazed out for Thee. i shall not mind in whatever I gave. Labour or money, one sinner to save; I shall not mind that the 'way lias been rough, That Thy dear feet led the way was enough. Wlirm 1 am dying, how glad T shall he That the lamp of my life has been blazed out for I lice.”