DEVOTIONAL COLUMN

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7294, 2 August 1930, Page 5

DEVOTIONAL COLUMN

Precept. Let patience have her perfect work. James 1, 4. Promise. What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shaft -know here,after. John 13, 7. Praise. I will praise Thee, O Lord, with my whole heart. Psalm 9, 1. The present circumstance, which presses so hard against you, if surrendered to Christ, is the best shaped tool in the Father’s hand to chisel you for eternity. Trust Him then. Do not push away the instrument lest you lose also its work. WITNESSING PAITHPULLY. When Charles Simeon was in the Highlands of Scotland, ho was detained at one point by indisposition, which led to intercourse with the minister of Moulin (Mr Stewart), resulting in an immediate change in the preaching of a man of high repute for amiability and learning, but, like the young Chalmers afterwards, “very defective in his view of the Gospel and in has experience of its power.” From that moment Stewart “changed the strain of his preaching, determining to lcnow nothing among liis people but Jesus Christ and Him cm* ctfiied. ’ ’ Through Mr Stewart both parents of Alexander Duff were converted, and the way was'prepared for the upbringing in a godly home of the great missionary to India. OUR PRESENT AND FUTURE. You know what, an earnest life is, a,nd why given. So our loving Lord, who loves us so that He would fain have us where He is, that wo may behold His glory, that we may share His joy, that we may bo free from all the grief and the pain of temptation we have here, as, for infinite reasons, Ho cannot as yet do that for us, Ho docs what Ho can do—viz., gives us now a glimpse of glory, a ray of joy, some drops of blessing. Our God is a good God. Bis secondbest is far better than man’s very best. I would rather have His autcpast of heaven, than the fruitfulness of the worldling’s brightest boons. LOVE AND FAITH. What though the people where you live Ignore the message that you give: No time have they for Christ, your Lord No thought about His precious Word! Tell God about them on your knees Till ‘Love and faith shall find the keys.’ Though dark your way and hard your task Eis promise is to those who ask. Go, seek by prayer, and ne’er give in— The power will come, and you shall win! How hard the task, Ho knows and sees, And 'Love and faith shall find the keys. ’ Get low beneath, that Cross of Love, And speak to Him Who hangs above, Until your heart with love shall break And you shall love all, for His sake; For greater love none had than He, And 'Love and faith’ still 'find the key!/

TESTING OUR LOYALTY. Let each man who says ho is loyal to Christ compare his Christian loy-' alty with his other loyalties. If he is loyal to his favourite team ho takes! tinxo off for the games, pays admission i keeps informed as to the team’s progress and boosts hardest when it is most in need. If he is loyal to his lodge ho takes time off for the meetings, keeps his dues paid up and lives according to its principles. If he is loyal to his profession lie defends it in the presence of its traduoers and endeavours to make his life reflect credit upon it. Can a man be loyal to Christ who gives nothing of lime, money, or interest? SERMON OUTLINE, “A GLORIOUS CHURCH.” (Rev. A. M. Mills, D.D.) ‘ ‘ Christ loved tlio Ohurch, and He gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the Word; that lie might present the Church to Himself, a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that 'it, should bo holy, and without blemish.”— iEplh. v. 25-27. This was the purpose of Christ’s coming to the world. This inspired Him during all the hatred and opposition of sinners—out of the wreck of the world to redeem a Church to be the Bride of Christ for ever. _ I.—The Church is Glorious in its Head. Ho is the glorious Son of God, “the Heir of all things.” The Only Begotten of the Bather, full of grace and truth.” Ho sits upon the throne of the universe. ‘riving of kings and Lord of lords.”

IX—lt is Glorious in its Character. _ Provision has been made by Christ for its complete redemption and full salvation. It is to be cleansed and sanctified, “without spot or wrinkle,. “holy and without blemish.” This should be the aim of every member of the Church. . Hl.—lt is Glorious Because of its Spirit. ! . , ~ It should be loyal to its AdorableLord; truth-loving, loyal, devoted zealous, self-sacrificing. Christ gave Himself for us. We should give ourselves to Him, and spend anad be spent for His glory. IV. —it- is Glorious because of its ooctrimes. , Like the great. lighthouse at the entrance to the harbour, the Church is to hold forth God’s Word in all its fulness and purity of doctrine, to be the light of the world. Only the unbalanced and morally insane hate its doctrines. V. It is Glorious in its Influence. With all its faults, it is. yet by far the most potent and dominant institution the world has over known. VI. it Will be Glorious in its Desalt" will increase in might and power until the heathen shall be its inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth its possession. It Shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.