DEVOTIONAL COLUMN

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 138, 10 May 1930, Page 12

DEVOTIONAL COLUMN

x A PRAYER. ' * Almighty God, by Whoso Will holy men of old spake as they were moved by tho Holy Ghost; endue now, we pray Thee, with the same Spirit those whom Thou hast called to translate the Holy Scriptures into other tongues. Grant them such knowledge of Tliy Word, such insight into the thoughts of those for whom they w r rito and such understanding of their speech that they may faithfully interpret to them Thy truth; and in all the Churches raise up, we pray Thee, those who shall be able more perfectly to convey Thy Holy Word to their own people; for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen. POINTS TO NOTE. Nono but God can fathom God. * * * * Many are trying to see before they buy of Christ the Divine eyesalve. * * * * God made man without liis consent ; but ho cannot save him without his consent. * * * * After tho Ascension, wherever there was a believer there was an omnipotent Christ. • * * » There was no Church till Pentecost, and a Church without a Holy Spirit is as much a delusion as a Church without a Christ. * * * * Some are not consciously filled with tho Holy Spirit, because He comes as a refiner and purifier. They are unwilling to submit themselves to this painful purgation. “BRING IN THE CANDLES.” “Occupy till I come” (Luke 19: 13). Looking for Christ’s return cannot lead to laziness or looseness. Present tasks should be faithfully performed, and will bo if we are truly looking for Him. We may recall Whittier’s description of the scene in the Old State House at Connecticut, on the famous Dark Day of New England, May 19, 1780. The terrifying darkness and silence of that day seemed to some of the members to foreshadow' the end of the world : “It is the Lord’s Great Day! Let us adjourn,” Some said; and then, as if with one accord, All eyes were turned to Abraham Davenport. He rose, slow cleaving, with his steady voice, The intolerable hush. ‘This well may bo The Day of Judgment which the world awaits; , But bo it so or not, I only know My present duty, and my Lord’s command To occupy till He come. So at the post Where lie hath set me in His providence, I choose, for one, to meet Him face to face, —

No faithless servant frightened from my task, But ready when tho Lord of the harvest calls; And, therefore, with all reverence, I would say, Let God do His w’ork, we will see to ours. Bring in the candles.” “GRAND EOR GROWING.” Straightway, then, a rainbow promise To my heart wms spoken, Whispered sweetly from our Father Which can ne’er be broken; Light afflictions are not lasting They are times for sowing Future blessing, and in sorrow “Weather’s grand for growing.” WIN THOU THE CROWN. Up, then, and linger not, thou saint of God 1 Fling from thy shoulders each impeding load; Bo brave and wise, shako off earth’s soil and sin, That with tho Bridegrom thou mayest enter in. Oh watch and pray. Soon shall the’ voice be heard, “Behold I come,” That calls thee upward to thy glorious home, That bids thee leave these vales, and take swift wing, To meet tho hosts of thy descending King; And thou must rise. Gird on thy armour, face each weapon ed foe; Deal with the sword of heaven the deadly blow; Forward, still forward, in the fight divine, Slack not the warfare till the field be thine. Win thou the crown. ’Tis a fair crown which never can grow old, — A crown of heaven’s old everlasting gold} Wages of servico rendered here below, Reward of battle for the conqueror’s brow, Win thou the crown. , —Bonar. THE SECRET OF FRUIT-BEARING. Our only possibility of bearing any fruit worthy of our natures, and < f God’s purpose concerning us, is by vital union with Jesus Christ. If we have not that, there may be plenty of activity and mountains of work in our lives, but there will be no fruit. Only that is fruit which pleases God and is conformed to His purpose concerning us, and all the rest of your busy doings is no more the fruit a man should bear than cankers are roses, or than oak-galls are acorns. They are but tho work of a creeping grub and diseased cxcrcscenses' that suck into themselves the juices tint should swell the fruit. Open your hearts to Christ and let His life and Spirit come into you, and then y on will “have your fruit into holiness, and the end everlasting life.” —Dr. Maclaren.)