DEVOTIONAL COLUMN.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 15 July 1933, Page 6

DEVOTIONAL COLUMN.

Prayer: Eternal and merciful God, our Father and our Friend, we would worship Thee with all the faith and love of our hearts, and all the service of our lives. Bring us so near to Thyself that we can never again wander from Thee. May our communion with Thee in this prayer-time be so real that all the rest of life shall be an unbroken act of worship. Sanctify pur common tasks and out ordinary moments, and keep us ever in the glory-power of the Cross; through our crucified Redeemer, Jesus Christ.— Amen. Sripture reading: Heb. 2. A FRIEND’S DESIRE

I do not ask for thee a sunlit way, A pleasant path, bestrewn with flowers gay, I only ask that Christ will lead thee

on; Then, rough or smooth, the road ’twill end in Home.

I do not ask for thee a year of case; Days filled with seeking self alone to

please. I only ask that every hour may bring Some sacrifice or service for the King.

I do not ask for thee a tearless life, A heart that never aches with stress

or strife. I only ask that every grief and care May make thee stronger, others’ loads to share.

And so I ask for thee the Father’s best — A heart that trusts in Him and leaves the rest, Knowing that what He sends in love is given, And that the sunshine of His face is Heaven.

“IN EVERYTHING GIVE

THANKS.’’

Hundreds of times had we read, heard, and thought of these words (1 Thess. v. 18), but never until quite recently had we read them so as to understand them.

Like thousands of others we had read in them what was not there, and therefore found the injunction much harder than it really is. The mental reading with multitudes ' is: “for everything give thanks’’; and at once the question arises: “How can I give thanks for that sad accident which has befallen me? for the severe temptations to which I am subjected, the defamation of my character, the stealing of my property, the losses which in various ways have been sustained, the long, painful, and expensive sickness which has come upon me, the sad bereavement —in the grave closing over my dear friend, child, or companion, etc.?” Well, who has commanded you to do it? Surely not Him Whose “yoke is easy and Whose burden is light.” The time may come when you will see reason to be thankful for all these, but if you cannot do it now, do not be troubled. The command is, “In everything give thanks.” There is a great difference between for and in. While you cannot be thankful for very many things to which you are subjected, you can be thankful in every experience, as a very little reflection will convince you.

“In every condition —in sickness, in health, In poverty’s vale, or abounding in wealth; At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea, As the days may demand, shall thy strength ever be.”

Paul might not be thankful at first for “the thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet him;” but in that affliction he could and did give thanks that God’s grace was sufficient for him, and that he was not left to fall. THE WORDS OF JESUS. THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. All religious teaching, doctrine or creed, if they are to have any claim upon the love, loyalty and devotion of the people, must he in harmony with the teachings of Jesus the Christ whose words fit into every fold and crevice of the human heart, and of whom it was 'said in John 7:46, “Never Man Spake Like This Man.”

THE BLESSED LIFE

Section I.—Matthewss, 9,

And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they , shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.