DEVOTIONAL COLUMN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 6, 6 December 1930, Page 12

DEVOTIONAL COLUMN

PRAYER. O Thou knowest the frailty of the heart, and how it clings, we leave to Thee the ordering of our lives. May we obey Thee perfectly! May no weak subservience to the flesh hinder our usefulness: and if our hearts fail in their loneliness, be Thyself our companion till the night is gone and in the morn those angel faces shine that we have loved long since, and lost awhile 1 THE JEW. From the “Jewish Era.” Scattered by God’s avenging hand, Afflicted and fornlorn, Sad wanderers from their pleasant land, Do Judah’s children mourn; And, e’en in Christian countries, few Breathe thoughts of pity for the Jew. Yet listen. Gentiles: Do you love The Bible’s precious page? Then let your hearts with kindness move To Israel’s heritage. Who traced those lines of love for you ? Each sacred writer was a Jew. And then as years and ages passed, And nations rose and fell, Though clouds and darkness oft were cast O’er capfTve Israel, The oracles of God for you Were kept in safety by the Jew. And when the great Redeemer came For guilty man to bleed, He did not take an angel’s name No—born of Abraham’s seed, Jesus, who gave his life for you, The gentle Saviour, was a Jew. OUR LORD’S PURPOSE. Remember that the Soif of Man came to seek and and save that which was lost. It was not to found a church, or to establish a creed, or to teach good morals. He came to die for men’s sins that they might _ be saved. Furthermore men are just as completely lost now as they were then. Civilisation has done away with some of the cruelty and barbarism in the world, hut human nature is precisely the same as it was two thousand years ago. It is thoroughly selfish and sinful, and nothing but the grace of God can make it otherwise. No matter how amiable and honourable and public-6pirited a man may be. without Christ he is lost and needs to be saved.—Dr. H. W. Pope (NorthThe parable of the labourers in the vineyard, though it may seem to contradict economic principles, is true to life. A mother prays and yearns for years for the salvation of her son; then a travelling preacher comes along, and almost with a chance word leads him into the kingdom. One . who has long borne true witness for God in the midst of a gainsaying generation

may be spared to see the breaking of a better day; but in the new age his name is unspoken, and fresh recruits carry forward the banners of the faith. One lesson at least this may teach : we should work, not for reward, but for the love of the Saviour: “This is my ambition,” said the apostle Paul, “that I may please Him.” The mother of Zebedee’s children comes to the Lord, to ask for them the loftiest places in the kingdom of the Messiah. He answers sadly, “Ye know not what ye ask.” It is only through the sharp crucifixion that one can reach the right hand of power. Underneath the manifestation of ambition there was a true heart of faith in those disciples; they knew that Jesus was on His way to a shameful death. Therefore He asked them, “Are ye able to drink the cup that I am about to drink of?” They looked into their hearts, and seeing love there, they said: “We are able.” And through grace they were enabled to drink of the Lord’s cup of suffering, and to be baptised with His baptism.—Matt. 20. GLORY FOR THE LOWLY. “Lord, I have question’d oft Who best can work for Thee below? Who can live nearest unto Thee, And most of Thy will know? Whom Thou hast given most To taste the joy of winning souls? ’Tis he who humblest is, Who on his Lord each burden rolls. Yes, who would do Thee Truest service, Lord, must lowly be! And humbly lay his will Down at Thy feet, to learn of Thee.” Holiness is not negative: it is Christ Himself imparted to us. “CHRIST LIVETH IN ME.” By Amos R. Wells. Christ lived in Paul, to break from raging sin, to choose a new hard way to journey in, new friends for old, repentance for the past, new plans, new toils, a martyr’s crown at last. Christ lived in Paul, with strength for every day, with courage for the hazards of the way, with songs at midnight, peace on stormy sea, and in his chains exulting liberty. Christ lived in Paul, a captain of the mind, fresh paths to seek and glorious truth to find, pilot of speech, inspirer of the pen, builder of words that reach the hearts of men. Christ lived in Paul, dear love’s consuming fire, love that knows not to falter or to tire, love that is skilled to warn and guide and draw, love that is deepest truth and highest law. Christ lived in Paul, the soul of conquering faith, the triumph of his life and of his death, the faith that looked beyond the storm and strife, reaching the Father-heart, the central life. Christ lived in Paul, that hero dared to say; and we, who seek to walk the Pauline way, dare we a lesser confidence proclaim? Christ lives in us, and praise his blessed name!