DEVOTIONAL COLUMN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 158, 5 June 1937, Page 15

DEVOTIONAL COLUMN

PRAYER. Our Father, wo thank Thee that Thy messengers in the early Church were not daunted by difficulties. Forgive our fears, our hesitancy in speaking out for Thee. May we move at Thy call. May w'e not neglect opportunities for service, in Thy name, whether to many or to few. Give ns, wo pray Thee, courage to speak for Thee even to those who may know us well. We thank Thee for the encouragement of friends, for Thine ever-present support, and may we go forward in our work tor Thee with gladness, since Thou dost use us in Thy service who are so far from deserving such honour and privilege. In the name of the Lord Jesus we pray.-—Amen.

STRAIGHT OFF THE DUCK’S BACK

Tho late Prebendary F. S. Webster was fond of telling bow an old woman came to see him to tell him that slio had been converted at the evening service. “And wliat did I say that led you to Christ?” lie asked in a kindly way. “Oh,” she replied, “it was nothing that you said, but wliat came straight off the duck’s back!” He was amazed at her reply, and wondered what she could possibly mean. Then she explained. The lectern in his church was a great brazen eagle, upon whose “back” rested the Bible. A verse of Scripture bad convicted her and led her to the Saviour.

AFTER BELIEVING,

A natural man has not a spark of God’s holiness in him. You may be kind, pleasant, agreeable, good-natured, amiable people,—there may bo a kind of integrity about you, so that you are above stealing or lying; but as long as you are in a natural state, there is not a grain of God’s holiness in you. But the moment you believe on a manifcsti d Christ, that moment you receive the Spirit,—the same Spirit which dwells in the infinite bosom of the Father dwolleth in you ; so you become partakers of God’s holiness—you become partakers of tlie Divine nature. You will not be as holy as God ; but the same stream that Hows through the heart of God will bo given you. —Robt. Murray M’Clieyne.

THERE IS ENOUGH. (B3 r Annie Johnson Flint.) Bread enough and to spare—Luke 15:17. There is enough in niy Father’s House, Always enough and to spare. What cio 1 lack where I dwell apart?, ' 1 will rise and seek it there. There is enough of the blood of Christ To save all the sinners who come; There is enough of God’s pardoning love To welcome all prodigals home. There is enough of the grace of God For the needs of body and soul, Out of His riches in Jesus Christ, He gives no grudging dole. There is enough in my Father’s House, Always enough and to spare; Why should 1 perish in hunger and rags, Or feed on the swine’s poor fare? Why should I wander, alone and alar From my homo and its love, since I know. There is joy in His House when a child returns? I will arise and go.

CHRIST SUPREME. Is it possible that our thoughts may be so under the sway of the Master’s presence that our affection for things we have surrendered can be taken away? Yes, and it will bo so ill our experience, according to the measure of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling presence. As St. Paul said: “Be filled with the Spirit,” and it is that fulness of the Spirit tlmt brings about the captivity of the mind, to the obedience of Jesus Christ. It is by this infilling of the Holy Spirit that every idol is expelled and with it every longing for it is expelled too; so that we are taken up wholly with love for tho Lord Jesus Clirist and His Will. —Canon A. St. John Thorpe.

LIFE POURED OUT. Conscious weakness, as a preparation for service, is one thing: brokenness is another. Wc may know that wo are but earthen pitchers, like Gideon’s, with nothing of our own but the light within, and yet we may not have passed through the shattering that sheds the light forth. This does not mean something vague oi- imaginary, but intensely practical. Road the description that Pni.-i gives of the life of ministry—the apostolic life—and see wliat it is to be a shattered vessel: it is no dreamy experience in tlie clouds! “Wc are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. Wo are fools lor Christ’s sake.”

“HE WILL NOT FAIL THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE.” (Josh. 1:15.) Faint not, nor fail! and let not courage falter, Though none stand by to help thee or to cheer; ■ God livctli yet! His word can never alter, Ho cannot fail, then wliat have you to fear? Not long the struggle—it is not forever Thou she It contend with tilings that rend the heart; Faint not! press on! nor slacken thine endeavour, God watches all, and Ho doth feel each smart. He gave to thee they work, thou didst not choose it. If men rejected Him canst thou complain ? He chose your portion, canst thou then refuse it, Rcncause it doth involve so much of pain ? ’Tis not for long—soon—soon will come the ending _ Of all the toiling and tlie bitter tears; And then thou’lt find the joy is all transcending. Of reaping in flic long eternal years.