DEVOTIONAL COLUMN

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6803, 5 January 1929, Page 4

DEVOTIONAL COLUMN

PRECEPT. Choose ye this day -whom ye Trill erve. " Joshua 2-4, 15. PROMISE. • From this day Trill I bless you. Haggai 2, .19. PRATER. So teach us to number our days that Wo may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Psalm 90, 12. THE UNSEEN GUIDE. Just think, He will be continually With us and we can draw -from Him in every situation and circumstance, His counsel will be the best for us and we shall be satisfied. He also leadeth us beside the still waters, where we will have quietness, peace and soulicst. In the world you’ll get only turmoil and unrest, but with Jesus we find comfort, rest and joy. This God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our Guide. Ps. 48, 14. SUPPOSE. Suppose some one were to offer me a thousand dollars for every soul that. I might earnestly try to lead to Christ, would I endeavour to lead any more souls to Him than I am endeavouring to do now? Is it possible that I would attempt to do for money, even at the risk of blunders or Tidiculo what 1 hesitate or shrink from doing now in obedience to God’s command? Is my love of money stronger than my love of God or of souls? How feeble then my love of God ! Perhaps this explains why I am not a soul-winner. (“Lovest thou me more than these?” John 21:15). Suppose that every member of the church to which I belong were to dedicate himself or herself to-day to a ].fe of full surrender to the will of God according to His Word (Horn. 12;1 2), and were to become hence-

forth a soul-winner as exemplified in the life of Paul (1 Cor. 9:20-22). would not such a revival follow as this churcn and community have never seen? And am I not willing to say that by His grace I will give myself from this day forward to the definite business of saving lost, that I will have a daily prayer list and will do what 1 can under the guidance of the Holy Spirit to help accomplish the supreme work for which my Lord and Master came into the world? (“Vow, and pav unto the Lord your God” Psa. 70:11). GOD BROKE THE YEARS. God broke the years to hours and days, That hour by hour And day by day Just going on a little way, We might be able all along To keep quite strong. Should all the weights of life bo laid Across our shoulders and the future, rife With woe and struggle, meet us face to faco At just one place, « We could not go. Our feet would stop, and so God lays a little on us every day. And never, I believe, in all the wry Will burdens bear so deep Or pathways lie so steep But we can go if by God’s power We only bear the burden of the hour. SPECIAL TEXTS FOR SPECIAL CASES. The following objections are among those most frequently met in dealing with the unsaved. The texts of Scripture indicated, as well as similar passages, may bo used in such cases. “Not to-day,l’ or “Some Other time.” 2 Cor. 6:2; Hcb. 2:3; Heb. 3:15. “Don’t feel like it.” John 3:3; Acts 4:12; Acts 17:30-and 31. “Am too great a sinner.” Isa. 1:18; Matt. 9:13; 1 Tim. 1:15. “Am good enough now,” or “Aru satisfied with my present experience.”

James 2:10; Rom. 6:23; John 3:3. “Too many hypocrites in the church.” Rom. 14:12; 2 Cor. 5:10. “Couldn’t hold out.” 1 Cor. 10:13; 2 Tim. 1:12; 1 Pet. 1:5; Jude 24. In the actual work of soul-winning it is well to keep the following things in mind: Be constantly in the spirit of prayer. Approach the unsaved on common ground. Use godly tact and wisdom. Never argue or lose self-control. Answer objections with Scripture if possible. Avoid denominational differences. Don’t try to force your own views. With love in your heart, give the Word and the Spirit the full right of way. Be in earnest. The salvation of an immortal soul is at stake. Thoso who were intimately acquainted with D. L. ‘Moody say that he was the most desperately in. earnest man they ever knew. Press for and expect an immediate decision. It may be that soul’s, or your, last opportunity. It is said that a minister once dreamed that he saw rows of beautiful diadems studded with precious jewels. “Is that big one for me?” said lie, remembering that there had been many conversions in his church. “No, not for you,” the angel said, “that one is for the poor old deaf man who used to sit by your pulpit stairs and plead with God for souls in the congregation while you preached to them.” “BILLIE” SUNDAY’S BIBLE. Twenty-two years ago, with the Holy Spirit as my guide, I entered the wonderful temple of Christianity. I entered at the portico of Genesis, walked down through the Old Testament art galleries, where pictures of Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joseph, Isaac, Jacob and Daniel hung on the wall. I passed into the music, room of Psalms, -where the Spirit swept the key-board of natuic until it seemed that every reed and pipe in God’s great organ responded to the tuneful harp of David, the sweet singer of Israel. I entered the chamber of Ecclesiastes, where the voice of the preacher was heard; and into the conservatory of Sharon, and the Lily of the Valley's sweet-scented spices filled and perfumed my life. I entered the business office of Proverbs, and then into the observatory room o i the prophets, where I saw telescopes of various sizes, pointed to far off events, but all concentrated upon the bright and morning star.

I entered the audience room of the King of Kings, and caught a vision of His glory from the standpoint of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, passed into the Acts of the Apostles, where the Holy Spirit was doing His work in the formation of the infant church. Then into the correspondence room, whore sat Paul, Peter, James and John, penning their epistles. I stepped into the throne room of Revelation, where towered the glittering peaks, and got a vision of the King sitting upon the throne in all His glory, and I cried:— “All hail the power of Jesus’ name, Let angels prostrate fall, Bring forth the royal diadem, And crown Him Lord of all!” THE BOND OF PERFECTNESS (To the Editor). Sir, —‘ ‘ Behold how good, and pleasant- a thing it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” So sang the sweet psalmist of Israel three millenia ago; and with such a thought for liis theme, David himself if living now, might have presided over the time-honoured ‘watch-night’ service, latterly fallen somewhat into desuetude, which was revived at the Baptist Church on New Year’s Eve. The gathering included members of several denominations, illustrating impressively the communion, or common- union of saints; and was significantly instructive . as a pointer to the possibilities of united effort by members of certain sections of the Christian Church, doctriually—on minor points —slightly at variance, but in agreement fundamentally, who are willing to submerge their identity by combining forces in a certain diree ticn for the common weal—forming thereby a moral merger, at once maneffacing and God-exalting—the eirenicon of Divine love. Surely the spirit of fraternal unanimity should commend itself to all who, associated by a common bond, desire the eternal welfare of mankind, as well as tho participation by all races, in the many blessings which would at present appear to bo the prerogatives of tho enlight ened white race. Such a correspondence of heart so exibited in the service mentioned, rising superior to petty differences in methods of worship and work, in order to encompass a definite object, certainly displays the true spirit of Christ, who desires our unification for His service. What could not Christians accomplish, fo:

example, if they would combine in sending the Gospel to the heathen, who, sad to relate, number nearly a billion of the world’s present population? These fellow-beings, denied, by the accident of birth, may we say, the advantages of the Christ-born pii\ ilegcs wc annoy, are still nnevangelised. They arc vainly appealing for the help which the united efforts of Christian bodies could probably easily bestow; and which, in these days of worL.subjugation by the whites, who using varied, rapid, and wonderful means of transit aro practically annihilating the difficulties of distance, could sweep the globe in a generation, aye, less than that—a decade. “Look gentlemen,” said the immoi - - tal Nelson, on the eve of memorable Trafalgar, to Collingwood and Rotherham, two officers who had quarrelled: “Yonder is the enemy —shake hands like Englishmen.” But, says one, moro exclusive than his fellows, wc will have no compromise with the evil or lawless. No indeed, thank you—- ‘ Honi soit qui mal y’ ponsc.’ Bovo thinketh no evil—‘Why judgest thou thy brother?’ As far as in you lie. live peaceably with all men, enjoined the great apostle of the Gentiles and amplifies this urge of love in 1 Cor.. 13. Of the nine characteristics of tl: Christian, charity being the has virtue, self-control will assuvcdl. occupy the exalted apex to show tin perfect equilibrium of the whole. “Master,” said John to Jesus, “wc saw one casting out demons and we

forbad him, because he followeth not us.” “Forbid him not,” reproved the Lord, “ho that is not against mo is for me.” “Enviest thou because of me,” replied Moses to Joshua in respect of the sphere of work chosen by two of the former’s assistants—would to God all had the spirit of God to servo Him.” Supposing you are more highly endowed, mentally, ethically and spiritually than another, what of it? What hast thou except by gift, and if a recipient only, why boast,? Why could wc not continue the spirit of goodwill and amity throughout the year; and make Ckristmastide a time for tho genuine reunion of kindred souls, for the comparing of notes of promises fulfilled, intentions pursued, hopes realised, victories won, and greater triumphs visioned. The universal truth jtbat “no man liveth to himself and [no man dicth to himself” showing our . interdependence in life should enable [ us, as far as possible, to practico the precept, “each for all, and all for each.” i In the foreign field, almost all missionaries collaborate, why not similar 'co-operation here? It would earn tho smile of Heaven, and tho approbation of mankind, and doubtless inaugu--itc a wonderful “revival” in our didst. The year 192 S has gone with all its joys and its sadness; its regrets and its gladness; and all its wasted opportunities, or occasions improved. Let us employ the experiences gained by accomplished effort in the past

year, to point the way towards greater and worthier achievements in tho present; and use the salutary lessons of avoidable failures for the purpose of future successes. I am, etc., CHURCHGOER.