DEVOTIONAL COLUMN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 70, 21 February 1931, Page 12

DEVOTIONAL COLUMN

PRAYER. How shall we thank thee sufficiently, deal- Lord, that thou hast abolished death and brought life and immortality to light by Thy gospel ! Give us grace to lie ready for Thy call, whenever it shall come, and may the waters of the river be at the lowest ebb when we pass over! In any case, be with us that they may not overflow! STRONG BY PRAYER. I cannot help believing in prayer for spiritual things. Being fully possessed of Christ, then it is He that prays. The heartiest prayer is to pray “Thy will be done.” —John Greenleaf Whittier. Strong is the lion—like a coal His eyeball—-like a bastion’s'mole His chest against the foes; Strong the gier-eagle on his sail. Strong against tide the enormous whale Emerges as he goes. But stronger still, in earth and air, And in the sea, the man of prayer; And far beneath the tide; And in the seat to faith assigned, Where ask is have, where seek is find, Where knock is open wide. —Christopher Smart. FILLED, WITH THE SPIRIT. How can we, for the first time, it may be, or for the second, or third, or even the fortieth time, be filled with the Holy Spirit ? Let me give you the answer in two words; they are these —abandonment to the lordship of Christ; and abiding in Him. That abandonment will bring to everyone the infilling of God’s Holy Spirit; and abiding in Christ day by day will maintain that fullness of the Spirit. Remember abiding is just obeying. And if you will live a life of simple obedience to the Lord Jesus Christ, the experience of the infilling of God’s Holy Spirit will be a continuous one through all the days, and until you see Him face to face. ABIDING IN CHRIST. Christ Jesus our Lord is the home of His people; they dwell in Him as in a residence whose stability, fitness, position, comfort, and resources are adequate to all their need. It is said that “an Englishman’s home is his

castle.” In a far higher sense the Lord is our habitation. Well may our Divine Lord say, ' “Abide in Me, and I in you.” These words give the two sides of “the abiding.” We dwell in Him; He dwells in us. Though the Son of God, He became the Son of Man, that through Him the sons of men might become th© sons of God. —Henry Varley. “Oh, may I thus be sweetly blest, With humble souls below.” PAUL’S “HYMN OF LOVE.” (By C. T. Wood, Dean of Queen’s College.) “Seek eagerly the greater gifts, but above all the supremely excellent way, that is Christian love (which all can attain) which vitalises all other gifts. 13.2: I may speak with all the tongues of men and of angels; but if I lack love, I am become like a sounding or clanging cymbal. I may have the gift of prophecy and know all secrets of the world, all knowledge; I may have faith enough ‘to move mountains’: but if I lack love, I am naught. I may give away all I have in doles to the poor, I may give my very body to be burned; but if I lack love, it is no help to me. 4. Love is patient and kind; love knows no jealousy, does not give herself airs, is not conceited, not bad form; she seeks not her own advantage, does not allow herself to be provoked, does not let evil dwell in her mind, is not gladdened by unrighteous acts but only when truth prevails. 7. Love is ever ready to find excuses for others, to believe in them ; to hope for them, to endure at their hands. 8. Love never fails. Prophecy tongues, knowledge have their day and cease to be • for. prophecy and knowledge only reach part of the truth: and when that which is perfect shall come, all that is partial shall cease to be. Now <ve are like children in our speaking, thinking reasoning; but the child grows up and puts away childish things. Now we see truth dimly as if reflected in a metal mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I shall know as fully as God knows me. 13. Faith, hope, and love shall abide when all other gifts merge away in perfect vision; but love is the greatest of the three. 14:1. Therefore make love your supreme quest.”