DEVOTIONAL COLUMN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 110, 10 April 1937, Page 7

DEVOTIONAL COLUMN

PRAYER

i Our Father, we thank Thee that Thy Word contains many a life history' that shows Thy loving guidance. We thank : Thee for the ways in which Thou 4<? s t speak to us, and wo thunk Thee that it is possible for us to dream beyond the immediate surroundings, and tho path that wo see just ahead. Help us to bo so yielded to Thee that our purposes and our hopes may be within Thy will for our lives, and that as we endeavour to win worthy goals we may bo upheld by' the knowledge that Thou art leading and strengthening all along the way. May we not be dreamers only, but doers of the work that Thou dost set before us, with earnest, hearty obedience. We ask it in the name of the Lord Jesus Amen.

A SLAVE BOY’S HONESTY. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. (Golden Text.) Dr Sergeant states that at a slave market in one of tho Southern States at which he. was present a smart, active coloured boy was up for sale. A kind master, who pitied his condition, wishing him not to have a cruel owner, wont up to him and said, “If J buy you, will you he honest?” The boy, with a look that baffled description; replied, “I will be honest whether you buy me or not.” He had learned the meaning of Ephesians 4: 28 and Romans 12; 17. A NEW SONG. Thou wilt put a now song in my lips. “A new song in my lips!” Ah! what si la 11 it be? Dear Master, a strain that shall glorify Thee? A note that shall rest on a heart sorely tried? A whisper of courage—of Love oceanwide ? Yea, touch with Thy sweetness the lips Thou hast made, And help me to sing a new song unafraid ! “A new song in my lips!” Of Truth shall I sing, To blazon the Beauty of Jesus, my . King? To toll of His patience with stumblers, and meek. Of His help ever ready for those who seek ? • Yea, make it a True song, for thus would I tell The wounded, o’erburdened—lie doeth all well! “A new song in my lips!” New mercies to praise. New (lowers by the wayside to gladden the davs, New paths leading onward to heights of desire. Now visions unveiling tho soul to inspire. Yea, touch Thou my lips, and as bird winging free, My song shall soar up, God Creator to Thee! —Constance Gitlins. OUR REFUGE IN TROUBLE. Often, to deepen our knowledge of Christ in prayer is the mission of the angel of sorrow. The truth is, that we never feel Christ to be a reality until we feel Him to he a necessity. Therefore, God makes us feel that necessity. He tries us here, and He tries us there. He chastises on this side, and He chastises on that side. He probes us by the disclosure of one sin, and another, and a third, which have been rankling in our deceived hearts. He sends upon us the chastisements which lie knows we shall feel most sensitively. He pursues us when we would fain flee from His hand ; till, at last. He makes us feel that Christ is all that is left to us.

MEEKNESS. AVe try to interpret meekness as want ol spirit and courage. But we remember that the most valiant Man Who trod this earth said to Himself, “I am meek and lowly in heart.” See Him, facing the most powerful religious and political leaders of the day, and addressing them : “AVoe unto you, yo blind guides! AVoe unto you, hypocrites!” No. meekness is not incompatible with the most fiery courage. Wlia.t is meekness then? It is just that quiet fearless acceptance of the will of Cod, whatever it may involve, because we know that His ways are higher than our ways. It is the humility which surrenders to Him our own pride, that He may fashion us without resistance.

AA’ill your anchor hold in the storms of life, AA’lien the clouds unfold their wings of strife ? AA’hon the strong tides lift, and. the cables strain, AVill your anchor shift, or firm remain? AA r e have an anchor that keeps the soul Stedfast and sure while the billows roll, Fasten’d to the Rock which cannot move, Grounded firm and deep in tho Saviour’s love.

It is safely moor’d, ’twill the storm withstand, For ’tis well secured by the Saviour’s hand ; And the cables, pass’d from His heart to mine, Ca.n defy the blast, thro’ strength divine.

It will firmly hold in the straits of fear, When tho breakers have told the reef is near; Tlio’ the tempest rave, and the wild winds blow, Not an angry wave shall our bark o’erflow.

“AS THY DAYS.” There is in the Bible no promise of grace in advance of the need. God does not say He will put strength into our arm for the battle while we are in quiet peace and the battle is yet far off. When the conflict is at hand the strength will bo given. He did not divido the Jordan’s waters while the people were yet in their camps, nor even as they began to march toward the river. The wild stream continues to flow as the host moved down the bank, even until the feet of the priests had been dipped in the water. This is the constant law of Divine help. Many Christians worry because they cannot see the way open and the needs supplied far in advance of their steps. Shall we not let God provide and have faith in Him? —J. R. Miller, D.D.

UNFAILING, ETERNAL LOVE. One with whom they had borne company, kill unsuspecting, for three full years, was about to betray the Lord, Another, their leader and spokesman, would shortly deny Him. He Himself was about to leave them, their hopes of restoration to a place among the kingdoms of this world sfiattered. Small wonder their hearts should be troubled! The world’s comfort is that the threatened' disasters may never happen; the comfort of the Christian is that even though they should happen, though the

earth be moved and the sea rage, his Lord -sits as King over the water-floods. Neither the waywardness of His people nor the opposition of the adversary can stay His.hand in His care of those who belong to Him. —C. P. Hogg.