QUIET HOUR

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 13 February 1926, Page 18

QUIET HOUR

THE NATURE OF GOD’S KINGDOM. One of tlic most beautifully-majestic pieces of music to which the writer has ever listened is the famous Halleluiah Chorus,” in Handel’s "Messiah. The piece is powerful enough, considered only as a musical composition, but when it is associated with the words to which it was set, one can see how- the sentiment of the latter is helped by those impressive strains. Surely, the composer’s skill is manifest in a truly remarkable degree in the adaptability of the music to its accompanying messa.r{ —"Hallelujah, for the Lord God Omnipotent rcigneth. The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ, and He shali reign for ever and ever.” These words appear m the Hook ot Revelation, whose writer, the beloved Apostle John, endeavoured to set forth therein, "the things which must shortly come to pass.” Much of the language used in describing the great events that will mark the conclusion of the present dispensation is in the past tense, as though they had already occurred. This particularly applies to those Scriptural passages which refer to the universal reign of Christ a.nd His acknowledgment as King by,the human race as a whole. We have not vet come to the time when the innumerable multitude assembled on the earth, under the earth, and in the sea, are exclaiming with one accord, "Blessing and honour and glory and power be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.” X Rev - v - 13 )' Tliat time 19 ’ doubtless, getting nearer; meanwhile, a great deal has yet to be accomplished before our Saviour-King is proclaimed and recognised as Lord of all, and is allowed to have His own way in the world. There is a great difference in these modern days between the "kingdoms of this world,” and the "kingdoms of our God and of His Christ.” Our Saviour distinctly said, "My Kingdom is not of this -world,” and that utterance helped to pronounce His condemnation according to some of the important people of His day. They -were hoping that the would arise in His regal power and might to free their country and nation from the hated Roman oppressors; but instead of that He preached the doctrine of rendering unto Caesar the things that -were Caesar’s, and actually performed a miracle to provide for the payment of tribute money, on behalf of Himself and His disciples. The nearest that Christ ever came to the triumphal march of a monarch into his capital city was when He entered Jerusalem seated upon an ass, and the multitudes spread their garments in the way, strewed the track with branches of trees, and shouted, ‘ ‘ Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He that cometli in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” Nevertheless, that moment of exaltation was very near to the time of His deepest humiliation, but to Him the latter experience was as necessary as the former in order to the establishment and confirmation of His right to rule the hearts of men, HALF STARVED LIVES. The process ’of hindering prayer by crowding out is simple and goes by advancing stages. First, prayer is hurried through. Unrest and agitation, fatal to all devout exercises, come in. Then the time is shortened, relish for the exercise palls. Then it is crowded into a corner and depends on the fragments of time for its exercise. Its value depreciates. The duty has lost its importance. It no longer commands respect nor brings benefit. It has fallen out of estimate, out of the heart, out of the habits, out of the life. We cease to pray and cease to live spiritually.

One of Satan’s wiliest tricks is to destroy the best by the good. Business and" other duties" are good, but we are so filled with these that they crowd out and destroy the best. Prayer holds the citadel for God, and if Satan can by r any -means weaken prayer he is a gainer so far, and when prayer is dead the citadel is taken. We must keep prayer as the faithful sentinel keeps guard, with sleepless vigilance. We must not keep it half-starved and feeble as a baby, but we must keep it in giant strength. Ohr prayer-chamber should have our freshest strength, our calmest time, its hours unfettered,. without obtrusion, without haste. Private place and plenty of time are the life of prayer. “To kneel upon our knees three times a day and pray' and give thanks before God as we did aforetime,” is the very' heart and soul of religion, and makes men, like Daniel, of “an excellent spirit,” "greatly beloved in heaven.” —E. M. Bounds.

Pray often, and you shall pray' oftener; and, when you are accustomed to a frequent devotion, it will so insensibly' unite to your iwiture and affections that it will become trouble to omit y'our usual or appointed prayers; and what you obtain at first by doing violence to your inclinations, at last will not be left without as great unwillingness a-fe that by which at first it entered.—Jeremy Taylor. Unanswered yet, the prayers your lips have pleaded

In agony' of heart these many years? Does faith begin to fail? is hope departing? And tliink you all in vain those falling tears? Say' not, the Father hath not heard your prayer; You shall have your -desire sometime, somewhere. —Robert Browning. A PRAYER FOR TO-DAY. Help me to sacrifice myself Just for to-day. Let me no wrong or idle word Unthinkingly' say' — Set Tliou Thy seal upon my lips • Just for to-day. So for to-morrow and its ’needs I do not pray. But keep me, guide me, hold me, Lord, Just for to-day'. —Samuel Wilberforee.