CHRISTIAN’S COMPASS

Taranaki Daily News, 5 January 1935, Page 12 (Supplement)

CHRISTIAN’S COMPASS

IN ALL WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM. HE SHALL DIRECT THY PATHS. “In all tby ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”—Proverbs, 3-6.

This as you may easily’ perceive, is the utterance of one who had full knowledge of the deep and perplexing ways of life; one who had known those dark and soul-wracking experiences when man feels he is abandoned of God arid his fellows; one familiar with those mental and moral dilemmas when good and evil are inextricably mixed together; one who had known painful situations when sin was so alluring, so lovely and so enthralling that it appeared impassible to escape its silken nets. But Solomon had found a safe way out of life’s very tangled labyrinth, and thi§ he would make known to all still upon life’s journey. Thus the words of the text He assures them that just as their fathers found a way through the desert from' oasis to "*oasis, because God had set certain planets in the firmament ou high, and even as their ancestors safely tracked the wilderness, because an unseen hand had set a cloudy pillar in the sky, so God had set a Pole Star to guide humanity over the troubled sea of tipie, that it might reach the desired. haven. "In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” Now what does it mean to acknowledge God in all our ways? It means not merely putting ourselves on side with Christ; not simply in some heated discussion or in some difficult moral situation, unhesitantly declaring we are on the side of the angels; but something mor® subtle and intimate than that. It means that you will ask God’s blessing upon every enterprise you undertake, in religious and sacred things, surely, but also in everything else too—eating and drinking, pleasures and recreations, our daily tasks and all our aims and projects in life. And this, of course, carries with it a great implication. It implies that the things upon which you would embark, are such that you can ask Goda blessing upon them. Again, to acknowledge God in all your ways means also that you will seek continually the direction of the Holy Spirit, not only in the moral situations but in all those innumerable occasions when no moral principle appears to be involved t s « For example there is Isaac, thinking to take to himself a wife; he consults God about it. There are Abraham Lincoln and Sir Douglas Haig in grave and critical situations making their position matter for earnest prayer, and confidently expecting that God will answer their petitions. We recall in the life of Dr. Hunter of Glascow a letter to him by a lawyer. This man had studied for the Church, but doubts assailed him, and he became an agnostic find took up law. He became engrossed in his profession and for years never entered a church S door. Through the influence of Hunter he was led to a personal faith in God, and this is what he wrote: I will tell vou what I know you will be glad to hear. For about five years I almost never prayed. Not that God was entirely unreal to me, but so far off that the answering of prayer in a universe of fixed laws seemed impossible, ine influence of your services, however, discovered to me that it is possible to have

a true communion with God; and since I have had a room of my own I spend a minute or two in God’s presence, quietly laying before Him my aspirations in the day’s work. And I am sure it is the best way to begin the day. We ourselves know of doctors who invariably include in their preparations for every operation definite prayer about it. We know a lawyer who never meets a client or takes up a case without asking God’s guidance. We know business men who every day, an£ especially at every transaction, pray for Divine light and help. We are acquainted with many men and women who all the day are resting upon God’s direction and leading. Is it any wonder that we ourselves fall into sin and error, lose our tempers and make false steps in lite when we enter the day without thought of God or of heavenly guidance? In all thy ways acknowledge. Him and seek His continual help.

Again to acknowledge God in all out ways means that we must be willing to persist in the path where He has directed us, no matter what the cost, and no / matter how difficult and how unpopular it may prove to be. Letjis emphatically say, if we acknowledge God in our ways He assuredly will direct us. But we would have you note that significant and determinative . particle “If.” For unless we are willing, to acknowledge Him, we need not ®*P ect clear and unmistakable guidance. When we fulfil the first part the latter one will follow in inevitable sequence—He shall direct qur ways. How? Sometimes through strange and seemingly miraculous ways. Like Paul we may see in vision some man of Macedonia beseeching our help. Like Joan of Arc we may hear angelic -voices inviting u» to some great enterprise. . Like a relation of ours we may see in our dreams a dead ■ son’s face smiling and bringing comfort to our stricken heart. ■ But while God at crises may direct us by special interpositions, the whole teaching of the Bible is against' our relying upon such things. Another way of revelation is when the will of God is made known through the Scriptures. We do not mean by looking upon Holy Writ as a book of magic and expecting. that when we haphazardly open it a divine message will flash out from the first verse which catches our eye. But studying it carefully and prayerfully we do learn, as' Carey'used to find, the will of God made plain for us. Yet another way is by the removal of difficulties from our path. We well remember in earlier years*, when working in Central Otago and thoughts of the ministry were ever present in our mind, praying that if it were God’s will that we should go forward certain difficulties might be removed and certain doors opened—and it was so. But above ah we are sure when the consciousness of God’s presence and of Christ’s approval, is with us in the way. It might help us to recall that this verse greatly influenced W. T. Stead, and indeed became his* motto for life.. General Gordon also found comfort and. direction from it. In one of his letters, to his sister he wrote “It is wonderful what power and strength are given to us by living for 'God’s view, not mans.. I can’t tell you what peaceful,, relying comfort there is in doing everything He wills, irrespective ot the consequences. I can truly say, thanks to God, I am comforted in all troubles tecause I do not conceal anything from Him.” "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways, acknowledge Him ana He shall direct thy paths.”