DEVOTIONAL COLUMN

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 124, 23 April 1927, Page 6

DEVOTIONAL COLUMN

PRAYER. O most meek and humble Saviour, Who, being the everlasting God, yet didst come down and dwell amongst men, taking our nature upon Thee, living a life of meekness and humility, and dying a painful death; give me a meek and humble spirit, that I may seek to learn of Thee. Help me to do my duty to all who are about mo, with meekness and patience,; to Thy honour and glory, Who with the 'Father and the Holy Spirit art one God for ever and ever. Amen. WAS IT YOU? An old man limped . along life’s way, His grief-bowed head was crowned with grey ; Somebody cheered his dreary day; T wonder, was it you ? A lonely child devoid of guile Looked up, and tears bedimmed its smile. Somebody stopped to play a while; I wonder, was it you ? There’s always someone needing aid, Can they depend on you? “THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD.” (Psa. 23:1.)

Here is a miracle in language! Men ask us: “What is; God?” and we babble to them of Omnipotence and Omniscience and Omnipresence, until they are mone bewildered, but not more wise, than they were before. And then lo! David comes and in six syllables brings tlu- infinite within the comprehension of the simplest: “The Lord is my Shepherd.” Not, be it] noted, a sheep driver, hurrying the j flock forward with a rod; nor'even aj western shepherd to whom they are! nothing but a flock, to bo carefully I tended, but of not much real interest; to himself. No! but an eastern shep-1 herd who has a name for every sheep, i and loves them all. A shepherd wno| realises that there is a wanderer, not | because he has counted them, but lie-j cause one black, familiar face is miss-! ing from the flock. A Pastor who goes before, that he may prepare the way for his helpless charge. Ono whose voice the sheep have learned to know, and whom they love with an affection and a confidence that they will give to none beside, finch is the eastern shepherd; such is the Lord, our God! Tender, patient, pitiful, watchful, yet Almighty. How happy is the man or “the woman who can say with the Psalmist: “The Lord is my Shepherd;” Well may they add, in perfect assurance: “I shall nob want.”

WHY THE DEVIL HATES THE BIBLE. 1. Because it is Pure.—Prov. 30:5. 2. Because it is Powerful.—Heb. 4:12. 3. Because it is Purging.—Eph. 6:26. 4. Because it is Precious. —2 Peter 1 :4. 5. Because it is Prospering.—Ps. 1:24, Josh. 1:8. 6. Because it Promises.—2 Cor. 7:1. 7. Because it Pronounces his doom.— Rev. 20:10. APPARENT IDLENESS. “Who doesn’t stop at the top of a long hill to allow the engine to cool?” questions Roe Fulerson in the Kiwanis Magazinfe. “Some cf the best thoughts we ever have come when we seem to be most idle. More than ono man has determined on a successful business change while sitting in seem-; ing idleness waiting for a fish to bite. | “To pause to look back and then forward, often increases speed rather

than causes delay! We run past more really good things thnn we catch up with. It was.a baker idling at the zoo who first made animal crackers and got rich on them before his competitors woke up.” THE LOST UMBRELLA. Roman 13:10. “Love worketh no ill to his neif^hbour.” Though found in the humorous column of a magazine, there is a suggestive truth in the remark which follows : .. Mr Greene came home from church wringing wet. “America,” he informed his wife, “will be a nobler land to live in when not every American thinks he can keep his religion and somebody else’s umbrella.” “IT IS MORE BLESSED TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE.” (By Rev. William Joynes, London;. “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”—Acts XX. 35.

We are told Christ gave His disciples power over disease and all unclean spirits. With the gift was a command, “Freely ye have received, freely give.” They had in no way earned the power. It was a gift ungrudgingly given, exacting ono requirement, it must be given away. Reception carried with it a responsibility. Possession must find a means of expression. There is a blessedness in receiving. There is no difference between us. “What has thou, that thou didst not receive?” was the Apostle's personal question. All hor.cst and humble people answer, “Nothing.” We are all God’s pensioners. In nature we receive sunshine and shower, flower and fruit. Through human nature we have j our civil and religious liberties with ! scores of other blessings. From oitr i Heavenly Father we have received the ! unspeakable gift of Christ, through j Him the gift of eternal life, and by I Him the gift of the Holy Spirit. All ! of’ which we have received without | money and without price, j' If we have money, we ought to give ! some of it to the service of God. | “Money talks,” says the world. It is j the only language some people understand. Our Master not only under- ! stands the language, but the motive. ! Tlie Apostle Peter had no silver of gold, but he had sympathy and power. He gave them to the lame man and healed him. These were better than coin. There is not one of us but what , has something to give. ; “It is more blessed to give than to- ; receive.” We must not think for a I moment that it is not. blessed to re- : eeive. But it is more blessed to give. llt is more valuable. The peril of conI stant receiving is selfishness. To give j what we receive is to increase happi- ; ness. Sir Humphrey Davy says the i vegetable basis of coal and diamonds iis the i same, but the reason why tbi the coal is black and the diamond transparent is that the coal received the beat and light and kept them, but j the diamond received and then reflected them. : It is more fruitful. The world’s ! saviours and benefactors are those who j give time, money, culture and service. I Tho selfish blesses no one. J . It is more lasting. The rich farmer jin the parable lost his farm and his , produce as Well as his soul through j greed. The Magdalene brings her box . of spikenard and the aroma filled the house. All in the house besides tho ■ Saviour shared the perfume. It is more God-like. God is always i giving and forgiving. His love is like j tho sun that shines on the evil and i good, to make the evil good, and the i good better. We ore called to cuiti- : vato this quality of life. We shall not only find the Holy Grail for our- | selves, but- influence others for Him who is the Giver of every perfect gift.