Devotional Column

Manawatu Times, Volume LII, Issue 6455, 12 November 1927, Page 4

Devotional Column

DEVOTIONAL. COLUMN. PRAYER.

Our Father in heaven, wo rejoice that power is with Thoe for every need. Why should wc fear when Thou art willing to give us the strength, the courage, the confidence that can make us bold and victorious in the face of our enemies and Thine. Give us grace to stand alone with Thee against the crowd, if need be, and to be Thine instruments for use in crises times, as well as in the life of every day. W e ask this in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. HOW LONG MAY WE SAFELY WAIT? A student came to a Scotch professor asking him how long he might safely put off decision for Christ. “Until the day before your death,” was the strange reply. “But I cannot toll when I shall die,” objected the youth. “True,” replied the professor, “then decide now.” THE “UPPER ROOM.” (By Edith Lilian Young.) Mark 14: 12-16. “Furnished and prepared” the chamber, Ready for the Lord to use, Glad its owner that th e Master His “large, upper room” should choose. And lathink he offered freely. Willingly, his very best, Counting it a joy and privilege Thus to serve this well-loved Guest. But I, too, have a "guest-chamber” In my heart an “upper room”: Master, take it, come and reign there, Nor let self its sway resume. Cleanse from sin and make it only Thy fair dwelling place for aye; Jesus, come, I give Thee gladly All this heart of mine to-day. RUDDERLESS, I Tim. 1:18; Eph. 4:14. Th e captain of a steamer is usualy ready to show one the different flags used as signals and to explain their meaning. But there is one signal flag that he does not like to show. Perhaps it is well wrapped in paper lying at tho bottom of the chest. If you ask why he does not show you this signal flag, ho may answer rather gruffly: “I hope I may never have to see it myself, much less to raise it, for its message is: ‘Rudderless.’ That would mean that I can no longer manage my own ship. I wish never to pass through that experience!” In the Christian experience it is possible to be rudderless. Such people are cast about by every wind of doctrine and are in danger of suffering tho shipwreck of their faith.

“What Christ is to me as Shepherd” —John 10.. (By Pastor W. Mallis.)

1. Ho knows me. “Calleth His own sheep by name” (John 10: 3, 14). The nam e of his choosing, which is the true expression of character. 11l us. Peter —a rock: Israel —a prince.

2. He calls m e (John 10; 3.). He is always calling. To follow entails sacrifice. He calls me—to follow means the discovery of new things, new tokens of His Love—love surprises. To follow means the development of new powers. Ulus. : “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.’

3. H e leads me (John 10: 3). He is always in front. Ulus. ; The Oriental shepherd is always ahead of his sheep. He is our advance guard. He is always in the to-morrows of our history. All that is ahead of us has to pass Him before it reaches us. We literally take our days and all that they contain from His hands. Ho leads us “out”—that is, to larger liberty. The following of Christ never dwarfs life.

4. He loves me (John 10: 11,15). In these two passages we feel the puls 0 of the Shepherd love. 5. He provides for me (John 10: 10). Here you see the measure of His provision—Abundance. What a host is God! In Psalm 23:5 we learn that it is a prepared meal He provides, not a snack. God’s guests are expected and prepared for. In Psalm 23 wo have this statement of certainty, “Shall not want.”’ The Shepherd cancels want.

6. He protects me (John 10: 12, 13, 14.). He comes between me and my foes (Psalm 23: 5). A table prepared in the presence of my foes. What a picture of Grace! What grand contempt for danger! He protects my head, “aneinls with oil.” So many Christians to-day are suffering from head trouble.

7. Ho insures me (Psalm 23:6) My lifetime and my eternity arc SC' cured in Him.

What the Shepherd expects of me as an under shepherd (1 Pet. 5; 2). Acts 20: 2S —Feed the flock, i.c. shepherd or tend th e flock. In order to do this efficiently wo must have—• 1 A sense of the value of the flock, "purchased with His own blood." Wc “ecd no more than this

to enable us to realise of what value the sheep is to God. 2, A sense of the dignity of the appointment. (Acts 28). The Holy Ghost has made the appointment, “over which” should be read “in which.”

3. Let us not e the twofold demand made by th e flock. (1) “Take heed to yourself.” The flock demands the best from you. It is possible to hurt the flock through lack of personal holiness. Through neglect of our own spiritual life we may lose the qualities that fit us for this shepherd life. (2) Feed the flock (1 Pet. 5: 2) —tend, shepherd. This includes “defence,” “Suffering,” “nourish.” 4. The qualifications of an under shepherd. (1) Willing servire, “not ot constraint” (I Peter 5: 2). ((2) Must be above money temptation (1 Peter 6: 2). (3) Must bo humble (1 Peter 5:5). Pride is one of the most subtle temptations of shepherd work. Never forget pride is a nonconductor of spiritual power. It is the lowly heart that is drenched by the blessing of God.

5. It is a service of faith (1 Peter 5; 7), “Casting all your care upon Him.” Ofttimes In this under shepherd work there will be large demands made on faith. The temptation of the under shepherd Is to bo anxious and careful. C. The under shepherd’s reward (1 Peter 5: 4). “A crown of glory that fadeth not away.”