DEVOTIONAL COLUMN.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 1 December 1934, Page 6

DEVOTIONAL COLUMN.

Precept. j Whatsoever., is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done. Ezra. 7, 23. Promise. !The Lord . . . will hear him from. His holy Heaven. Psalm 20, 6. Praise. I praise and extol and honour the King of Heaven. Daniel 4, 37. THE COMING OF THE KING. 1. Thess. 4: 16, 17. Luke 12:40. How will He come? He has told us—iHe will come in the clouds of the air. And oh, to the servants who love Him, That sight will ,be fair! Why will He come? He lias told us. To gather His ransomed at last, And bring them where joy is unending And sorrow is .past. When will He'come? Ask the Scripture Its messages prayerfully weigh; But oh, lest His coming be sudden, , iStand ready, to-day! E. E. Trusted.

PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP. (Exodus 19: 7-13.) \Observe how Moses prepared for the presence of God, and the presence of God prepared Moses to bring forth the people to meet with God (v.> 17). Approach God reverently. The r'ooni of the Throne of Grace must not be entered as thoughtlessly as Peter invaded the empty .tomb. Humility, sincerity) and a hushed spirit arc the best for worship. "My.soul, wnit thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him." Pray against the draining as well as the driving assaults of Satan.

SACRIFICING FOE THE NEEDY. (2 Corinthians 8: 1-9.) A contribution of money for poor saints in Judea was made by the exceedingly poor churches of Macedonia. They gave till it hurt; Tjut they gave hilariously. Love cf the Lord Jesus Christ and His people prompted the sacrificial gifts. Thus they gave occasion for the enunciation of vital Chris tian principles in regard to giving. Reference to the Lord Jesus, our iblessed Redeemer, becoming poor for us undeserving souls ought to strike in our hearts a responsive .chord. How great is His Love! How poor ours!

THE TOUCH OF JESUS.

"And there came a leper to Him, full of leprosy; who, seeing Jesus, fell on his face and worshipped Him, beseeching Him, and kneeling down to Him, and saying unto Him, Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth His hand, and touched him, and saitli unto him, I will: be thou clean. And as soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed." My gracious , Saviour, is Thy love So lowly and so free, That it can stoop from heaven above, To spend itself on me? While others come Thy voice to hear, To taste Thy mercy sweet, May a poor leper venture near, . And bow before Thy feet?

Yes; I am welcomed to the love That dwells within thy breast; Thy words of grace my doubt remove, And still my fears to rest. Thy sweet compassion beams on me Through Thy benignant face; Though I am "full of leprosy,' * Thou art more "full of grace." My spirits melt beanth the rays . Of 'Thy forgiving smile, And fain would echo forth Thy praise, ' For healing one so vile. If Thou canst touch a soul like mine, Polluted to the core, 0 bathe me in Thy bliss divine, And let me love Thee more! —Willia'm Wileman.

i "GET ON OB GET OUT." (By E. 8.) '"lt's no use; I can't see it!" said \a young sailor with a laugh. Earnestly his friend pointed, out the statements of God's Word that seemed suitable. 'Gradually the smile gave place to an unusual seriousness. "I see it," he exclaimed. "Then will you-. take it?" ('The 'way of salvation).ry" ; No! " he replied slowly. "If I turn Religious it will spoil my prospects Service. I want to get on!" In vain the danger and the folly of rejection was urged. The Holy Spirit had spcn ken, he had counted the cost, and from; that time he seemed to lose all interest in the things of God.. He "got on"! Prom step to step he was rapidly promoted till he was very near the "top of the tree." Sent to sea to Qualify for promotion to officer rank, he committed suicide. His affair.s were were in perfect or- ■ der; he had no trouble; it was "in'explicaibley' the coroner, said. ;,/f ; Get onf' ,• or "Get out" is the 3sisely ;p;jiblishsjr ; advice of"a 1 success•i young people entering busi-

uoss il'i'fo. But,, i'i ! ■' 'getting on" means "getting out" of God's plan, 'succbss may be too dearly purchased. Money and iposition are often the price of real success. "What shall it profit a man if he shall, gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Mark viii. 3'6). Many, like the young sailor, have paid far too heavily for success that cannot satisfy. It is better to "get out", of man's plan than of God's. In these days of keen eompetitiion it is easy to give an undue prominence to things that are of secondary importance. Strive for success by all legitimate methods, but put first things first. The above incident is perfectly true. Surely it is worth a few minutes to consider, it may be on the threashold of life, what the price of success may be. It may, and. of ten does, cost much to be a. Christian: it costs infinitely more not to be one. It has been said that a man can get anything in reason that he sets his heart on. There is a good deal of truth in the statement. Will the reader take time to consider the position in the light of God's Word? "MSeek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness" (Matt. vi. 33). And to all who "seek" with the same earnestness with which prosperity in life is sought, success is certain. '' Ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart" (Jer. xxix. 13). "Seek ye the Lord while He may toe found, call ye.upon Him. while He is near" (Isa. lv. 6).

CALLED TO SERVE.. 0 Master! Thou hast called us Forth in Thy name to go, In calm and brave endurance, With 'Thee to: face the foe; Our confidence is in Thee, Our hearts are on. Thee stayed, And o'er the hosts around us Thy power will Ibe displayed. 0 Master! Tho uhast called us, And can we say Thee, nay? Thy mighty love constrains us 'To follow close each day; With steadfast purpose cleaving, Wholly, dear Lord, to Thee; With loyal, true allegiance, ,And faithful constancy. 0 Master! Thou hast called us, ' And though the strife be long, Though fierce may be the conflict, In Thee we shall be strong. We know Thou wilt not fail us; Thy presence, Lord, shall be Our rest and our reliance, . Our all-sufficiency.

0 Master! We will follow, Until, earth's warfare past, In heav'n's unclouded glory , We see Thy face at lust. A joyful consummation, When, with the ransomed throng, With mighty jubilation, ■■' We raise our triumph song!

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