QUIET HOUR

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 30 May 1925, Page 8

QUIET HOUR

TILE DEEPER LIFE. “The deepening oi the tepiiitual Life” —that pin art now often on our lips—what, in its'true some, does it mean ? Not the quest of some m ' and modern thing. Not the ef.loi without reverence the expression mi be borrowed from so different a held) “break a record” of supposed Spiritual discoveries in some .alien region. u “another Gospel,*’ God tor-bid. 11 ’ but to see the .Lord Jmu* 1>1« mer tl a He is; to explore more fully the on ground; to dig deeper into the one mine of the gold of God ;to travel " ther upon the “old paths ; to g in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. ” 2 Peter 11 J IN This is life eternal, to know-.him. Uu* is life eternal: to know Dm. this is that life “more ahundantly t know- Him more. That, ever ble&sed Spirit “the Holy Ghost, which is given nnto ns,” what, in Fli.s chosen and promised work? . • . to take things of Christ and reveal them unto uf4. —-Moule.

ImOTBBHIHpCD. • Christ always used simple words, though the more they deeper the experiences which, flow tiom them. Simplicity awl depth aie usually allied and both, are part of wisdom. • The simplest word , expressing the relation, that a Christian ought to" hold to other men, is the word “brother.” Christ used the word often, though the world to! used iL and refuses/ it now.- juet because it i so simple. Long arguments are made, endless books are written, as to sonw possible relation, man can hold to man that.will solve some harassing pionlerns The simple relation ol brotbeihood is passed by. and yet Christ knew better than any philosopher..or economist, and gave the one solution of ail social prohlems--Bro:therhoo<l Tf a» yoime; man will msohe to hoi a the brotherly relation to others lie m,av he laugh.ted at. he may be cheated/he may fail in material ideals, hut h e will succeed in seeing Me aright, and doing God’s will in his intercourse with his fellows. Brotherhood may ■naif (though it ought) work out to material success, hut it will do its part to show the purpose for winch man was placed: in this world. Christ saul “T came not to. do- mine own will, but the will of • the Father which wmt me ” and brotherhood demands that we'walk in “His (steps.” HEART PURITY. ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.’ (Matthew- o. “The end of the Commandment is charity out of a pure heart and oi a good conscience, and of laith un feigned.” (1 Tim. 1. 5.) “follow righteousness, faith, chanty, peace, with them that calf on the Lord out ot a) pure heart.” (2 Tim. 2 22.) Create in me a; clean heart. 0 God. (1 s 01. 10 ) “Truly God is good in ouch, as are of a clean heart-.” (IN. 63. 1.) Spoh are s*ome> of the Scriptuie woid*> which put the mighty truth before us. that purity of heart, by the grace of God, is a gift, a promise, a possibility for poor, needing man He purified their hearts by faith (Acts 15 9.) “From all. your idols will 1 cleanse you ; a- new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will T put withiii von. and I will give you an heart of flesh. And T will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ve shall keep my judgments, and de them.” (Ezek. 36, 25.') “T will put my laws into your mind, and write them upon your hearts.” (Heb. 8, TO; 10, 6.) Heart' purity is continually presented as a thing which, is attainable. God is able, by Hi.si skill and power, by His. Holy Spirit, to bring mem and Christ together, to dwell with them,, and to rule their lives.

FRAGMENTS OF THOUGHT (Selected). We cannot be tho poorer for the love we give, if it is true and un seltisih love, even though its object ditsappolnte hk; Our own nature is the richer Eor bhe sympathy, the affection, and the se.l f-forgetlu 1 nes s which it hais cultivated. Forgiveness of enemies is not advised by Christ; it is commanded. No Christian can choose whether he will forgive. He mu*t —-there irs no alternative for him. Responsibility is the one thing which we can never give away, however much we may wish to: do so-. We may put a vexing matter into the hands of an agent and authorise him to act- for uis; we may say with Pilate “I am innocent’’ ; but this does not relieve us of our responsibility.- God gave us tho responsible task to do, and He look*-* to ne for its accomplish merit. ‘Never was anyone so exalted as our Saviour; and never did anyone- make such a use of hie exaltation. He shrouded it in the deep veil of humanity; He concealed it fromi the view of the world. None hut the piercing eye of faith, illuminated by the Spirit of God, could behold it. —Robert Hall. “Ability never amounts to tnuch.” ea-ye a recent writer, “until it acquires two more letters S-T-ability.’' For Jack of those two letters, how many Christian lives are tnseless : Resolutions made and never kept; sins conquered one day and indulged tho next; opportunities half used and then thrown away. It is a sad and common story. Whatever our ability is. when we put two letters before it and make it stability, we have increased tenfold our service to God. It is ChristV rest that we need in order to make our lives calm and strong. Restlessness makes us weak. We can do our best' work in any sphere when we are at peace with God’. Many people, plan their lives, and then goi to Christ for approval, as if one should consult an architect after nutting up the fra mo,work, of one’s house.

“Doing something for someone is the quickest way I know to plant, raise, and harvest a ■•t-op of happiness.” ft is also the surest way to strangle tho weeds ol rcNontmcni. jealousy, and bitterness which, springing up. trouble you.