DEVOTIONAL COLUMN.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 June 1933, Page 2

DEVOTIONAL COLUMN.

PRECEPT. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not. x Jas. 1. 5. PROMISE. And it shall be given him. Jas. 1. 5. PRAYER. Teach me good judgment and knowledge; for I have believed Thy commandments. ' Psalm 119. 66. . IF I CAN HELP. If I can help someone to-day More easily/to tread life r s way, And cheer them with a word or smile, To-day at least will be worth while. If I can help someone to-day Their burden sore aside to lay, And give them rest from toil and pain To-day will not be lived in vain. If I can help someone to-day To be instead of gloomy —gay, And make them laugh with joy and fun, To-day will be a hapy one. If I can help someone to-day To tread the straight and happy iway. Which leads to heaven’s eternal bliss, God grant the chance I may not miss. TO BE TRUSTWORTHY. His Lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.; — Matt. 25, 23. ON MAKING THE BEST OF THINGS. Even if I have but one talent, I can make the best use of it. The limitations may be many. There is the restriction imposed on me by scanty means, and the restriction imposed by a meagre education, and the restriction imposed (by fragile health. But let me live in the Great Taskmaster’s eye; let me drink the wine of Christ’s Kingdom; and the external fetters are no hindrance to genuine service and to effective fruit-bearing. How* can poverty be, when Paul was frequently in want, when John Wesley left behind him “two silver teaspoons and the Methodist Church,” when -their Lord and imin.e was homeless? How can an education which is bounded and confined prevent my diligence in the realm of grace? I remember how John Owen said of John Bunyan that he would willingly exchange his own many-sided scholarship for the tinker’s power of moving men’s hearts. And how can sickness lessen the fragrance of my character?—often and often it has increased it as a thousand sickrooms testify where Christ has shut in His prisoners with Himself. A LITTLE SERMON ON UNITY. Point number one. There* is a little “i” right in the middle of unity. A capital “I” would be out of place here, and it is good for one to remember that as a little “i” one cafi settle down here in his or her right place. Point number two. “U” comes before “i.”' There is surely no need to stress this point, but what a difference to unity it would make if the “I” always came after “U,” or if I-put you first. Point number thfee. “Y’> comes after “T,” This is a little difficult at first, but when we remember that “Y” stands for a question, and “T” stands for a social meal, it becomes clear that questions (which so often spoil theunity) can best be dealt with ''“after tea,” $r some other friendly meal! May we all be found carrying out these three simple injunctions, and surely, as a result, unity will be increase ed. Then the remaining letter “N” can well stand for “Nothing” between “U’’ and “I.”

GIPSY SMITH’S MESSAGE. The following story is told of the famous evangelist, Gipsy Smith was once asked how he would set about starting a revival. His reply was, “I would first draw a circle on the floor. I would then step into it, and I would pray to God to send a Eevival into the circle. ” MARCHING TO GEORGIA. '“Thou shall love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Lev. 19:18). An express train was pulling out of the station of Alexandria, in "Virginia, when an old Negro hurried up and on to the train at the very last moment. He looked the picture of weariness. He said he had had nothing to eat that morning and had been walking since 4 o’clock to catch the train. He was going to his old home down in Georgia. You would have thought Georgia was heaven to hear him talk. He had been saving up for years to buy the ticket. The conductor came through the car for tickets. On the next seat sat a pale-faced woman with her babe in her arms. “I haven’s any ticket,” she said, “Don’t put me off. My husband is down South. The doctor’s word has come saying he can’t live, and I must go to him, and I haven’t

any money.” The conductor said, “Sorry madam, you have to get off. I must do my duty.” Then the old black man turned round to the woman., He said, “Here’s your ticket.” Then the train slowed down, and the old man, with a smile in his eyes, shambled wearily to the door, and the last they saw of the old man he was patiently trudging down to Georgia. It was the Christ spirit in his heart.