DEVOTIONAL COLUMN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 111, 11 April 1936, Page 6

DEVOTIONAL COLUMN

SPECIAL 1 EASTER MESSAGE. PRAYER. Our Father in Heaven, we} thank Thee for this special season of the year when we are called upon to specially remember Thy great gift of love to mankind, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. For was it not on the Cross that Thou didst really give Him to us in a way which lie was not given, even at Bethlehem when born into our race. Our hearts go out to Thee in warmest thankfulness since we read in Thy Word that “God ccmmandeth,” or recommendeth, “His love to us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” We thank Thee, too, for His glorious resurrection from among the dead, for Thy Word declared “Thou will not suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption,” We are well reminded of the angel’s message to the women who found the tomb empty on the third day, “Fear not ye; for I know that ye seek Jesus, Which was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen.” As He said, “Ccme see the place where the Lord lay.” Accept of our thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord.—Amen. GLORIOUS TRIUMPH. Low. in the grave He lay, Jesus, my Saviour! Waiting the coming day— Jesus, my Lord 1 Up from the grave He rose. . . With a mighty triumph o’er His foes. . . He arose a Victor from the dark domain. And He lives for ever with His saints to reign; He arose!. . . He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose! Vainly they watch His bed — Jesus, my Saviour! Vainly they seal the dead— Jesus, my Lord! Death cannot keep his prey— Jesus, my Saviour! He tore the bars away — Jesus, my Lord ! HIS POWER OVER DEATH. While that body, dishonoured and crucified by men, died and was laid in the grave, it could not see ti.mrption (Acts 2, 27) and rose from tne dead. With the body which rie had taken incarnation, Christ died, and with that very body He came forth from the tomb on the third day. For the body which tender * hands had wrapped around with the garments of the grave, and laid among the fragrant embalming spices in the rock ■ sepulehre t , was not to be found there when sought. As He had died bodily; so He had risen again bodily. Neither : the power of death, nor the armed strength of Rome, nor the hate of the Jewish Sanhedrin, could keep that grave sealed. —R. I). Johnston, M.A. ( “AS IT BEGAN TO DAWN.” 1

A new day bega.n to dawn. It was the day of resurrection. The brightest morning that ever rose upon a darkened and death-stricken world, dawn-

ed. It was the day of light, and all that darkness represents departs, while all that is symbolised bv light breaks upon the vision. It is also a day of life, new life, endless life. Christ is dead no yiore, and so it is a day of Victory. Our Lord bursts the gates of death, and opens them so wide that a “great multitude which no man can number” might pass through in triumph. All tho forces of death are vanquished for evermore. That was indeed the dawning of a new day. T. I. Stockley, D.D. THE FAITHFUL MINISTER. I see a man cannot be a faithful minister until he preaches Christ for Christ’s sake —until he gives up striving to attract people to himself, and seeks only to attract them to Christ. I feel there are two things it is impossible to desire with sufficient ardour —personal holiness and the honour of Christ in the salvation of souls. If I know my own heart, its only desire is that Christ may be glorified by souls flocking to Him, abiding in Him and' reflecting His image. Rev. R. M. McCheyne. ETERNITY’S MORNING. Look at your life as you will see it on Eternity’s morning, when life will be all behind you. What will you and I count valuable on Eternity’s morning? Money? No, that will have gone never to come back again. Position? That will have passed for ever. Pleasure and Ease ? They, too, will have gone. But there will be two things that we shall value with all our being on Eternity’s morning. The first is to know that we have done His will with our lives, and the second thing will be to know,that there are precious souls standing round the Throne on that solemn day that God has used us to have a 6liare in winning.

GOD IN HIS WORLD. “Your God will come . . . He will come and save you.” Thus spake Isaiah when he saw our Lord’s glory (Jphn 12: 41). He who made the world was in the world, and the world knew Him not. -They knew not the Lord of glory. Blessed a.re the eyes that see deity through the humanity of Jesus Christ our Lord! “As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” (John 1: 12). With Thomas, let us confess Him: “My Lord, and my God.” BUILDING—WHERE? . For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The angels from their thrones on high Look down on us with wondering eye; That there w.e are but passing guests We build such strong and solid nests ; But where we hope to dwell- for aye, We scarce take heed one stone to lay. ROOT DOWNWARD FIRST. It is as the roots of the hidden life strike downward that the fruits of holy living will be seen. It is just in measure as the believer grows in the. knowledge of God and Christ in his own soul, that he bears the fruits of the Spirit manifestly before men. There will be no upward

growth, no development of Christian life, no visible advancement in heavonly things, if secret communion is neglected. Appearance may be put on from without, great zeal may he manifested in the outward things 'of the kingdom, but if the roots arc .not being sent deeper down, if the inner life is not receiving attention, all this will soon wither and die. “LORD CRUCIFIED.” Lord Sanctified, and set apart for me, Teach me to see why Thou art there for me, And may. Thy present love so grip my heart That I may be, as blessed in Thee. A vessel set apart. Lord Glorified, give me a glimpse of Thee, That my cold heart be warmed to worship Thee, And may •Thy glory pass, before my gaze, • Thy face to see, Thy majesty, And lead my soul to praise. Lord Satisfied, Thy love’s full fruit to see, Make me content to serve and follow Thee, Until that day when wakening by Thy side, At home with Thee, I’ll like Thee bo And shall be satisfied.