Devotional Column

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 74, 28 March 1936, Page 13

Devotional Column

our duty to our children. Deep religious character in the lives ot parents is the supreme need of our day. One oxamplo of holy living is worth more than a thousand sermons. "If our children aro to be spiritual, then it is our duty to be spiritual Christians before them. AVc cannot camouflage the matter."—Gertrude Cockerell. FRUIT GOD DESIRES. "Tko fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, goodness, meekness, temperance.” —Gal. v. 211. Glory to God iu the highest; on earth peace, good will to men. "My heart greatly rejoiccth, and with my song will I praise Him. "• Psa. xxviii. FAITH IN PRAYER. The following lines by an unknown author were recalled on listening to the broadcast of Josef Szigcti, the violinist. Ll : Radio's slim fingers can pluck a melody from the night And toss it over continent or sea, If the petalled white notes of a violin Can bo blown across a mountain or a citys’ din, If songs, like crimson roses, arc culled from the thin, blue air, Why should mortals wonder that God hears prayers! —Anon. RESTORATION TO PAVOUK. Reconciliation implies a restoration of an original relationship which has been ruptured. In the early dawn ot human history man and God walked in perfect harmony. Then came the tragedy of tho Hail, and man became alienated alid separated by his own act and will. The whole of human history is a record of man iu opposition to God, and, alas, men individually know tho experience of alienation and eon flict with the will of God. Christ, by His Sacrilice on tho Cross, has made it possible for man and God to be reconciled, and the old enmity to be slaim Remember Ibis rcconcilation is attached to Christ’s death and to expiation. lie and we arc thus reconciled, and from henceforth we can live as Joseph with his brethern, iu harmony with him. —W. W. Martin, M.A. PRAY—GIVE—GO. Three things the Master hath to do And we who servo Him here below And long to see His Kingdom come May l’ray or Give or Go. He needs them all—the Open Hall, The Willing Hcct, the Praying Heart— To work together, and to weave A three-fold cord that shall not part. Nor shall the giver count his gift As greater than tho worker's deed, Nor he in turn his service boast Above the prayer that vuice the need. Not all cau Go; not all can Give, To speed the message on its way, But young or old, or rich or poor, Or strong or weak—we all cau Pray: Pray that th e gold-lillcd hands may Give To arm the others for the fray; That those who hear the call may go And pray—that other hearts may Pray! —Annie Johnson llinl. I HAVE FINISHED MY COURSE. Here is a "Course” prepared for each believer from tho moment of his new birth, providing for the fullest maturity of the new life within him, and tho highest which God can make of his life in tho use of every faculty for His service. To discover that “course” and fullil it is the outduty of every soul. Others cannot judge what that course is. God alone knows it, and He can make it known, and guide the believer into it, as certainly to-day as He did Jeremiah and other prophets, Paul and Philip and other apostles. SICKLY CHRISTIANS. The reason why wo are such sickly Christians is because we do not feed on the Lamb. Wo have a wilderness journey' before us, as the children of Israel had, and if we do not feed upon Christ wo must starve by the way. We have not only to look to the blood foi safety, but we must feed on Christ for strength. How much the soul needs to be fed! Heeding upon Christ is feeding on His word. There is no book that will feed the soul, but the Bible. If 1 feed on the Word of God, I get spiritual strength and power. yomo people think if they get one glimpse of Christ, it is enough. We must live by faith as well as be saved by faith. Each day we must gather the manna afresh. A good many people seem to bo living on stale manna—manna that they got mouths or years ago, when they were converted. We should no more think of laying in spiritual food to last for ten years than we should of bodily food.