Devotional Column

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 171, 22 July 1939, Page 12

Devotional Column

GOD S WORK. IN US God's work in xny soul will not fail of its completion. He is fashioning me, according to the vision that is in His heart. And He will not leave me till the work is done. Behind our sorrowful failures and shameful disloyal ties, His love works out the good pleasure of His perfect will. He will not forsake the work of His own hands. Some day’ the Maker will rejoice in His accomplished work. And I shall rejoice with Him. —Frances B. Janie*. “Be quiet; why this anxious thought About thy tangled ways! God knows them all—He giveth speed, And He allows delay's. What though He let thee not perform Some good and loved design! Thou would’st not ask Him to conform His perfect will to thine." A PERSONAL COVENANT It is fourteen years this day since I was enabled to give my heart to « Jesus; and, Lord, Thou knowest I have never repented doing so. I now do so afresh. I take the sun that is shining in at my shop window, the pen with which I am writing, and tho page that I am writing upon, all to witness that I give my soul, body and spirit, a living sacrifice unto God. Take me, I my’ God, as I am, and use me for Thy glory as Thou pleasestl I give Thee my time: J give Thee xny talents and if I had money Thou shouldst have it also; but I have none —From diary of James Turner, Scottish fisherman evangelist. * THE GREAT REVEALER The Holy Spirit reveals Christ. 1 know that siuco my mother taught it me; but it is one thing to know about that truth and another thing to know the Holy Spirit has revealed Christ to you. He reveals Jesus conquering ths full force of temptation in His life. He reveals Jesus defeating sin on the Cross. Has that been revealed to you—not merely that the forgiveness of sin is settled; but has the Holy’ Spirit revealed to you that sin is a defeated r oe t that tho besetting sin that has conquered you again and again lias been defeated by Christ, and that you are dead to sin because He has died for sin and conquered it? —Rev. Bryah S. Green. A NATION’S STRENGTH Not gold, but only man, can mak# A people great and strong; Men, who for truth and honour’s sake, Stand fast, and suffer long. Brave men work while others sleep, Who dare with others fly; They build a nation's pillars deop, And lift them to the sky. —Emerson. THE “SALVATION” ARMY In the life of General William Booth it is told that the name of the Salvation Army arose while the head was dictating instructions and came to ths word?, “We are a volunteer urrny." His son, Bramwell, demurred. H# said: “Volunteer! Here, I'm not a volunteer. I’m a regular or nothing." The future General stopped, considered, took a pen, crossed oat the word “volunteer," and wrote it, “Salvation." “The effect,'' said his son and successor, “of that one word upon Railton (who was the scribe) and me was really’ quite extraordinary. We both sprang from our chairs. I remember that 1 exclaimed, ‘Thank God for that.' And Railton was equally’ enthusiastic.’ —Anon. GOD OF ALL GRACE O God of Bethel, by Whose hand, Thy people still are fed, ./ho through this weary pilgrimage Hast all our fathers led. ;ur vows, our prayers we now present Before Thy throne of grace; God of our fathers, be the God Of their succeeding race. Through each perplexing path of life Our wandering footsteps guide; Give us each day our daily’ bread, And raiment fit provide. O spread Thy covering wings around, Till all our wanderings cease, And at our Father's loved abode Our souls arrive in peace. Such blessings from Thy gracious hand Our humble prayers implore; And Thou shalt be our chosen Gou, And portion evermore. PRESS ONWARD In its progress down the ages, too Christian faith has been opposed bv many’ influences which recognised that its triumph would mean their eclipse. What happened in Ephesus has happened again and ugaiu since. Paul’s offence was that, by preaching a spiritual religion, he was shaking heathen belief, and consequently those who traded in idolatry were losing their living.

We may be certain that our own testimony for God will arouse the enmity of evil. It is never an easy thing to witness for what is right. The moment we take a stand for righteousnes. we issue a challenge to the PeviJ, ii nd be will not fail to take it up. Of this we may be sure, that the victory is not in doubt. —D. F. Ackland.