DEVOTIONAL COLUMN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 304, 21 November 1936, Page 7

DEVOTIONAL COLUMN

PRAYER. Our Father, help us to understand more deeply the experience of our Lord Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. We thank lliee for His utter devotion to the purpose for which He came to dwell among men. Help us to give over any elements of disloyalty in our attitude toward Him, and faithfully to serve Him at all times. Forgive us, we pray Thee, for our feeble support of our loving Lord at tho very times when He perhaps most needs its. And grant that we may not forget the crisis, through which He Hi in self passed, while His friends slept in the garden of agony. We have done so little for Thee, Lord Jesus! We would do far ’more in these days when Thy loving heart must seek the loyal love of friends, with no wandering away from loyal following of Thyself. We ask this in Thy dear name. Amen. OUR CONFLICT. Tho conflict of Israel was with living men oil earth, while that of Christians is with wicket spirits in heavenly places. In order to enjoy their possessions they had to fight for them, and

so have we now. There is no such I thing as enjoying the heavenly portion. of the Church without conflict with the enemy, and that reason why so many do not enjoy it. If the Christian does not enter into his full heavenly portion here below, it is because he is occupied either with himself or with the world, or some other idol of the enemy, and then lie cannot enjoy it. The great object of Satan is to hinder our enjoying, tasting and living on our heavenly blessings in Christ. —William Kelly. A WARNING. We are able to say that all the value of Christ’s character is reckoned to be ours. Nevertheless, nothing is more important to out comfort and to oUr Spiritual healthfitlness. than that we should consider well the character of Christ, and our own characters in contrast therewith. Few things are more to be dreaded by the believer than a dull or hardened conscience, and the conscience will soon become hardened if it resolves to merge every thought in the one great fact of accomplished salvation, and is careless of all that gives to character deformity or beauty in the sight of God. In such a case, natural qualities will ho mistaken for grace. —Benjamin Wills Newton.

j THE WONDROUS CROSS. When I survey the wondrous Crosß On which the Prince; of Glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, j Save in the death of Christ, my God ;! All the vain things that charm me most, | I sacrifice .them to His blocd. | ! ’ l See, from His head, His hands, His ’ feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down; Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown ? Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were an offering far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all. GOD’S CHASTENING. j i Thomau a’ Kempis said that if two ] patiis present themselves we should . cfloose that which U most set With j thorns. A rose-strewn path is unlikely i to be tho way of God. Many are dis-1 mayed because, of difficulties. But con- j sider that when the Lord was b&ptis- 1 ed, in the graphic words of Mark, “straightway tho Spirit driveth Him forth into the wilderness (to be) tempt- 1 ed of Satan; and He was with the wild t

beasts.” It is a favourite device of the adversary to undermine faith by suggesting that the .promised guidance lias not been provided, pointing to af-! fliction and trial in proof, whereas faith grows in chastening and in the j crucible becomes pure a.ud more prei cious to God. (1 Peter 1. 7.) I THE LIVING LOVE OF CHRIST. So great is the Lord’s love for us that if it were necessary He would come from heaven and suffer Calvary’s woo nnd death for us again; but it is not necessary that He should do that, for “by one offering He had perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” But it is necessary that He should live for us and serve us by His intercession, nnd this He does and will do to the end, Ho will do it because the love that fills His heart is unchanged, it is the same love that mftdo Hun sacrifice Himself for us upon the Cross. We must realise more fully this living lOve, this living service of our Lord for us it is necessary for our daily salvation. TRIALS. i ] Faith never expects to learn deep i lessons without deep difficulties ; therefore she is not surprised by

strange and dark providences. How many are apt to say, “My temptation is peculiar!” but we should remember that it is the peculiar aggravations which make a trial effectual, and should not forget the word “There hath no temptation taken you, but such as is common to man.” Our faith - is' greatly strengthened when we are brought up to see that no arm but God’s can help; no wisdom but His can guide; and no love but His can satisfy. The thickest cloud brings the heaviest shower of blessings. —R. C. Chapman.