“THE DEVOTIONAL PERIOD”

White Ribbon, Volume 22, Issue 11, 1 February 1951, Page 3

“THE DEVOTIONAL PERIOD”

A NEW YEAR MESSAGE Matthew 11:2B-30. Text: “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me, for 1 am meek and lowly in heart: and ye >hall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Like the familiar striking of Big Ben or the gentle quarter hour reminders of the smaller clocks, the beginning of each New Year marks a conscious period of time in your life and mine. But because it happens less often, we take more notice of it. All down the centuries, the New Year has been giv ?n a distinguished welcome.

As the curtain of time has risen in each infant year, voices of the past and hopes for the future have lingered awhile and mingled on the wings of human memory. Today, as we .look at the sorry state of the world, I feel there is but one approach to the New Year —1951, and that is, if we wish to see happiness and peace restored, we must work with all our might for God’s-Kingdom. “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of Me,” Jesus commands, and we are reminded of the need of service.

The word “yoke" suggests hard work, and it comes from our Lord’s lips immediately after He has spoken of rest. The more wc exert ourselves in the service of Jesus Christ, the deeper becomes His peace. “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of Me,” is a clear statement of this truth.

The more wc learn of Him, by contrast, the more we learn about ourselves. It becomes clear that we are limited in our abilities and, as that truth bears home, we realise our dependence on God’s mercy and love. We reach a condition of humility which is good for us and which is Christ like. "I am meek and lowly in heart,” indicates our Lord’s own estimate of Himself, so we cannot do better. If we follow the advice ot our text, stop by step, wc shall truly find rest unto our souls, and our journey through the coming year will become a splendid pilgrimage. “Come unto Me” —our Lord invites us to hav e fellowship with Him. Our hearts grow lighter as we walk with Him along the way, and we feel that great experience of transformation which leads to victorious and triumphant living. Prayer: Heavenly Father, again we come humbly to Thee in prayer to thank Thee for all Thy goodness and tender mercies bestowed upon us, throughout the past year. Help us, our Father, to begin this New Year ol service in faith, that we may he guided in all our doings and guarded all our days, as we seek to serve I hee faithfully, and finally by Ihy grace attain the glory of everlasting life —through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. A. G. SHERMAN, (Evangelistic Supt ).