DEVOTIONAL COLUMN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 175, 25 June 1932, Page 4

DEVOTIONAL COLUMN

Prayer.—Onr gracious God, we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving for all those who have walked with Thee. Increase our faith that we also may have intimate fellowship with Thee and do the things that please Thee. May Thy presence lighten our darkness, may Thy consolations take the sting from our sorrow, may Thy grace fit us for the tasks that are irksome and that often seem impossible. Thou hast saved us by the Good Shepherd’s life laid down and taken again. By the indwelling of our living Lord we would live for Thee and serve Thee. In His prevailing Name we offer our prayer. .A men. Scripture.—Psalm 89: 1-15; Colossians 2: 1-10.

“THOU REMAINEST.” (Hebrews 1: 11). With divinest cheer aflame, From a simple text there came To a sufferer’s heart and mind, Just the help she yearned to find. One short phrase that down the years Ranks among the wisest, sanest, Bringing peace in place of fears—- “ Thou remainest.”

One who long had served her Lord (Heart and hand in sweet accord) Now was called on to endure Pain that challenged ease or cure; Yet a smile o’erspread her face — “Thou, OLord, on high who reignest, Sweet to me the word of grace: ‘Thou remainest.’ ” So the “everlasting sign” Passes down the ages still; _ ■ Free and full the help divine, Bringing strength to heart and will; When the things of time and sense Prove as comforters the vainest, “Thou, Lord, art our confidence,” “Thou remainest!”

“And Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.”

Sophronius had a fair daughter named Eulalia, and she asked his permission one day to visit the gay Lucinda. “I cannot allow it,” said the Greek father. “Then you must think me exceedingly weak,” said the daughter indignantly. Sophronius picked up a dead coal from the hearth and handed it to his daughter, but she hesitated to accept it. “Take it, my child ; it will not burn you.” Eulalia obeyed, and the milky whiteness of her hand was instantly gone. “Father, we cannot be too careful in handling coals,” said the vexed daughter. “No,” said the father solemnly, “for even when they do not burn, they blacken.” So it is with evil companions and communications, as Lot found to his cost.

THE FAVOUR OF THE LORD. In olden times men sought with zeal The favour of their gods; To win it, oft those hearts of steel Faced death and dangerous odds. But, oh, on us, in Christ, there falls A glad, refreshing sense Of favour in His sight, who calls Himself Omnipotence! The favour of this King is life In all its forms made known; With every gift or bounty rife Which issues from a Throne. The favour of Lord is sweet As dew on sun-scorched ways; As clouds of latter rain which greet The eager watcher’s gaze.

Like Naphtali, at heaven’s rich board We thankfully ab'de — “Full with the blessing of the Lord, With favour satisfied.” Winifred A. Iverson. “FEAR NOT.” THE ENCOURAGEMENTS OF GOD. By L. G. Vallance. “And the Lord. He it is that doth go before thee; He will lie with thee, lie will not fail thee, neither-forsake thee, fear not, neither be dismayed.”— Dent. 31:8.

Recently, wo were looking at verse 6 of this same chapter, the words which Moses spake to all Israel. Here we have his remarks to an individual —Joshua. The predominant chord in each message is the reality o f the personal Presence: “The Lord. He it is that doth go before thee; Ho will be with thee. He will not fail thee neither forsake thee.” Whether it be the Church or the individual, the greatest and most pressing need is the daily, veritable realisation of the companionship of a personal Christ. The One who died for me, the One before whom I have one day to stand to give an account of each hour, that One is with me every moment of the day; watching every action, listening to eve-y conversation, noting every look. Are we gripped by this fact? Are we grateful and happy about it, enjoying its rest and power, or is there somewhere an awkward uneasiness as we thnik that He was listening to that frivolous conversation, that He was by our side in that questionable amusement ?

There is. however, in this message to the individual an additional basis for the “Fear Not.” To the nation it was sufficient to say: “The Lord, He it is that doth go with thee,” but to Joshua, who so particularly needed guidance and counsel, there is the added blessing. “The Lord, He it is that doth go before thee.” 'Wonderful (Saviour! Not only by my side hour by hour to be always with me as My Companion, but in each new place to which Ho brings me He has been there before, to be always ahead of me as my Guide: “when He pufteth forth His own sheep He goelh before them.” It is wonderful how the Now Testament is like a mighty rock against which the promises of the Old are blown and echoed back to us with double force because they have our Lord’s support. Of course we can absolutely rely or< every word of the Old Testnmert. but a message that actually fell from His own lips has an added charm arid power:

“The Lord, He it is that doth go before thee . . . Fear not.” “When lie putteth forth His cwn sheep, He goeth before them.”