DEVOTIONAL COLUMN

Horowhenua Chronicle, 17 July 1937, Page 6

DEVOTIONAL COLUMN

“FOLLOW ME.” We do not find it difficult to worship Jesus, but so often worship is a dismissal of Him. Beautiful cathedrals, with their stained-glass windows and ornate ceremonies cry, “Lord, Lord. 5 ' Hearty hymns and anthems cry, ‘ ‘ Crown Him. ’ 1 Creeds recite his qualities and praise His mighty deeds. Litanies cry to Him in supplication. Poetry falls before Him in adoration Music lifts His name to the skies, and all these things have their place. But all can blunt the keen edge of His demands, dim the terrible burning in His eyes, cry, “Lord, Lord,” and do not the things he says. As Dr. Posdick once said, “We do not fail to set Him in the light of beauty. We fail to set Him in the light of duty. But Jesus did not say, ‘Worship Me.’ He said ‘Hollow me’.” A great soul does not want His ego advertised. He wants His cause supported. Can I hope that Christ will conquer the world, if He conquers not my heart? Can I expect nations to follow Him if I follow not? Can I expect Him to establish world peace if the territories of my being are in tumult ■with one another and with Him? Can He have His way in society if, merely critical, I give Him no chance to have His way with me? No man can make a greater contribution to the great problems which distress us all in these days than in the silence. of his own spirit to surrender his whole being to Him; to let Christ dictate his every action and his every attitude and in the realm of his own life, to make Jesus King.— Leslie Weatherhead.

THE 'ONLY UNMOVABLE GROUND* Those who are right with God through Jesus Christ will not totter for they take His yoke upon them, and He steadies them. They shall not be agitated. They shall not fall. Empires fall, kingdoms wane, but those who trust in Him belong to a kingdom that knows no end. All such shall be like Mount Zion that can never be moved. They shall never sink beneath t!he load, for His hand shall be outstretched to bear you up, and strength will be given you to go right through. Burdens will not disturb you, but will really establish you, and knowing that it is His lot for you, you will be kept in a measure of calm in the midst of earth’s upheavals, and also personal losses. —Dr. Jesse Sayer. A SCHOOLBOY’S PRAYER. Before the light upon Thy tomb at close of school we bow, And ask that Thy presence may be manifested now. O Saviour dear, Be very near, For Love Thou art. We fain would glimpse the vision once again ere we depart, The memory of these days will fill each mind and soul and heard. 0 Jesus Christ, We keep this tryst, For Love Thou art. O send Thy spirit into us, most pure and holy Dove, That we may here Thy voice of old proclaiming from above. “My Son is He 1 give to, thee, For I am Love.” —Lilian G. Crisp. (Written for the elose-of-school communion service.) HAPPINESS. Happiness comes not from the power of possession, but from the power of appreciation. Above most other things it is wise to cultivate the powers of appreciation. The greater the number of stops in an organ, the greater its possibilities as an instrument of music.

GOD IS LOVE. A Christian farmer had a weathervane erected above his barn, and there was inscribed on it the familiar text, “God is Love. ’’ When asked why he had the text, there, the good man replied, “just to remind us that whichever way the wind blows, ‘ God is Love’.” God is love in our brightest sunshine: God is love in our darkest hour; God is love wdien our strength is greatest; God is love wdien we have no power. God is love when the wind is piercing, God is love in the zephyr breeze; God is love on the lake’s calm surface. God is love on the wildest seas. God is love when the hill is steepest, God is love on the verdant plain; God is love both in health and sickness, God is love when we suffer pain. God is love when our friends are faithful, God is love if they prove untrue; God is love when our needs are manv, God is love when they are but few. God is love so we’ll fully trust Him, All through life’s uncertain way; God is love, we wdll sing it gladly, Xow and in the Eternal Day. —A. A. Milne.