Pulpit Messages Christianity and Life

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22808, 1 December 1948, Page 3

Pulpit Messages Christianity and Life

(Contributed by Ministers’ Association.)

T E X T. “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation—that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners."—l Tim. 1. 15. Gideon’s Exploits Gideon, Judge of Israel, is always c counted, and rightly so, as one of the outstanding heroes in Israel’s history. The 11th Chapter of Hebrews includes him in its classical catalogue of Old S Testament worthies who through faith.] wrought exploits. Yet if we are to appraise Gideon rightly, we must rea-. lise that his heroism was not the pro- j duct of his natural make-up. but the outcome of a transforming spiritual ex- : pericnce through which he passed. It is this which gives Gideon a living significance to ourselves today, for: the transforming experience through which Gideon passed, we too. may pass through, and with an equally trans- 1 _ forming result. When we first see him this Judge of old cuts a pathetic figure of unbelief as recorded in Judges (!. v. 11. but as we continue with our reading we find that in Gideon’s ex- . perience there were three distinct stages or parts: First, he became con ] verted (see verse 24), this being followed by his consecration when he : offered himself to the will of God on that altar which he erected. His con- j secration was thus tested in a very ] stirring way (Verses 24 25.) Finally. Gideon became controlled. b\ | which we mean that he became con- j trolled by the Spirit of God. (verse 54) 11 - This, then, was the man God used— j | converted, consecrated, controlled. 1-Ie 11 is still anxious to use such men in this]! day—From an address given by Major j 1 E. R. Elliot at ihe Salvation Army, Gis- !| borne. j | Neglected Children

The problem of delinquent children is largely the outcome of a greater, and more serious problem—that of delinquent parents. Through ignorance, neglect or carelessness on the part ot parents many children have drifted into God-forgetting ways which lead only to evil, more and more.

The need today is for families where the Bible is the basis of everyday action, where prayer for guidance is regularly offered and the obligation for assuring the children’s soul-welfare solemnly recognised. No child should be denied, its right, to the real riches of life —spiritual riches. Unfortunately there are many young people being do prived of heaven-provided rights. Instead of being lead into paths of soulsecurity they are being taken by the hand —in many instances by parents themselves—and led into a world where they will be spoiled in body and soul.

Wherever children are lonely, wherever they are left to plan their own leisure hours, or to remain forsaken while yearning for parental companionship and confidence, wherever this unhappy state of affairs exists—it is there that the most pathetic and shameful example of the “neglected child” can be seen.