Devotional Column

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7299, 28 October 1933, Page 11

Devotional Column

PRAYER Eternal God and Father, glvo us tho Faith and love by which we may worship Thee aright. Grant that in tho Spirit we may havo communion with Thee. Silence the confusions of our hearts that we may hear Thy voice. Give us understanding of Thy Word, which Thou hast magnified above all Thy name. Give us tho vision of Christ everywhere in the rovelation of the holy Scriptures. May wo sco all prophecies and promises fulfilled in Him. Bring us more fully into His salvation; and may He be our life, now, and through eternities of blessedness. In His name wo beseech it. Amen. Scripture reading: Acts 10:3448.

ONLY THINE. Only Thine, Lord, Thine for ever; Thine when beams tho morning sun; Thine amid the flowers refreshing; Thine when each brief day is done. Thine when shadows o’or me gather; Thine in sickness and in health; Thino whate’er be my station; Thino in poverty or wealth. Only Thino, Lord, Thine for over; Thino thro’ hours of darkest night; Thino when bitter cares oppress me; Thino when fails my flick’ring light. Thine when earthly friends forsake me; Thino when lonely is the way; Thine when passing thro’ the waters; Thine when cherished hopes decay. Only Thine, Lord, Thine for ever; Thine to smooth the rugged road; Thine to cheer and raise the fallen; Thino to share another’s load. Thine to walk in sweet communion; Thine to feed upon Thy Word; Thine, yea, Thine alone for ever; Thine because Thou say ’st it, Lord. I LIVE AND YET NOT I BUT CHRIST A missionary in China once told tho story of Jesus for tho first time to a group of people in an inland town. When ho had finished someone said: “Ah, yes, wo knew Him; He used to live here.” Somewhat surprised, the missionary said: “No, He lived centuries ago in another land,” The man still insisted that he had seen Jesus, saying, “Hot so, Ho lived in this village, and we knew Him. Whereupon the crowd conducted the missionary to the village cemetery, and showed him the grave of a medical missionary who had lived, served, healed and died in that community.. Christ’s spirit taketh breath again Within the lives of holy men. Each changing ago beholds afresh Its Word of God in human flesh.

A BELIEVER IS PRIVILEGED TO—1. Come unto the Lord, Matt. 11. 28 2. Call upon the Lord, Psa. 50. lo 3. Consider the Lord, Heb. 12. 3 4. Cleave into the Lord Acts 11. 23 5. Commune with the Lord Exod. 25. 22 6. Confide in the Lord, Prov. 3. 26 “HE HATH GIVEN OF HIS SPIRIT.” (1 John 4. 1 —13.) God’s true children manifest convincing signs of their origin. A change has come over us which we did not make. Wo have said farewell to deliberate sin, and with full purpose oi heart we are endeavouring after new and consistent obedience. This blessed condition is- tho secret work of Him

Who created us and can re-make us; it is tho doing of Him Who is the Life of our lives. God’s true children are inhabited by His Spirit. And the Spirit is tho Father’s gift to tho children. The prophets foretold His coming, and the marvels that His presence would display; and the divine promises mado by them have boon abundantly honoured and fulfilled. He it is Who inclines and enables us to receive, by faith, the offer of salvation freely mado to us in the Gospel. He' it is W’lio rouses us from carelessness about spiritual things to concern that leads to everlastnng onrichmont. God’s truo children oxhibit unmistakable proofs of the Spirit’s fellowship. For He transforms harsh natures making them affectionate and friondly. He drives hatred out from tho heart, and enables men to forgive and to lovo their enemies. Imparting grace to those who submit to His fructifying and sanctifying teaching and presence, Ho persevorimgly and unostentatiously, moulds them into resemblance to their irreproachable Lord. . “PERFECT, STABLISH, STRENGTHEN.” Tho God of all grace . . . shall Himself perfect, stahlish, strengthen you. —1 Peter 5:10 (R.V.) Because you aro saved (Ephesians 2: S), work out your own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2: 12, 13). Because you havo been sanctified (Hebrews 10: 10), become sanctified (Hebrews 10: 14). Because you have acknowledged the passover, you should keep tho feast (1 Corinthians 5: 7, S). Because you aro saints (1. Corinthians 1: 2) you should become holy (1 Poter 1: 15, 16). Having been planted in heavenly soil, grow liko heavenly plants . Relying on what Christ has done for you, let His Spirit work mightily in you. Assured of union with Christ, enter into the secret of abiding communion with Him. Turn your inheritance into possession. See to it that your holy standing in Christ be also your happy state.—Rev. W. Graham Scroggie.

“FOLLOW ME.” (Luko ix. 23.) When we hear the call, “Follow Me,” we think chiefly of all it implies to us. It is needful we do so. But it is not the chief thing. A trusted leader takes all the responsibility, of the way, and makes every provision. As wo think of denying self, and taking the Cross daily, we feel how little we know what iit all means, and how little we are able to perform what we do know. We need to fix our heart upon Jesus, Who calls us to take the Cross and follow Him. On Calvary Ho led tho way, and opened it for us, even to the throne of God’s power. Lot us fix our heart upon Him: as He led His disciples so He will lead us. The Cross is a mystery. Taking, the Cross is a deep mystery. Crucified with Christ is the deepest mystery of redemption. Let us follow Christ with the true ’desire to come after Him, and live wholly as Ho did to the glory of the Father, and enter through death with Him into fulness of Kfq with Him as our leader. He will teach us, He will give us, He will make us that we know not. Lord Jesus! in Thy Name and strength, under Thy guidance, I will deny myself, take my cross daily, and follow Thee. Andrew Murray.