The Devotional Period

White Ribbon, Volume 26, Issue 7, 1 November 1954, Page 3

The Devotional Period

Scripture Reading: II Timothy 2:19-26. W.R. HyimuJ, No. 139.

Amy Carmichael of Dohnavur, was a young woman completely dedicated to the service of Jesus Christ and His needy children. In her diary, she offers a comment on the 21st verse of our reading. She translates “sanctified and meet” as “clean and very usable,” and recalls that she has three pens in her desk—one for ordinary writing, one a little finer, and one for proof-correcting. These three pens are kept cleaned and filled, always ready for use and therefoie, very usable. There is no need fpr any one of the three to ask to be used. They are clean, at hand, never occupied about their own business, but always free for mine. Dr. Moffatt adopts the translation, “he w'ill be consecrated and useful to the Owner of the House; he will be set apart for good works of all kinds.” The passage, iiowever translated, is full of holy comfort, because it indicates that God’s demands are not grievous and that it is possible for the humblest disciple to be consecrated and useful—heart and hand alike, expressing the fervent devotion of the ransomed soul for His Redeeming Lord. We are not all called to do a magnificent work, such as Dr. Billy Graham is doing. But the helpers assisting him are many. Some of his prayer partners will never be known to anyone but Grod. How often we hear cruel criticism by even Church members, of other Christians venturing out in faith, courageously, to do a piece of work for Christ! Something different! Often it is so, even when souls are being wone for Christ and w’ho, in turn become workers in His vineyard. God is not a lover of sameness or monotony. All about us, we find variety, for even the flowefs on the same plant differ. Too many of us are content to move in flocks, useless without another to direct us, when God, through the Holy Spirit, would work in and through us each one, as individuals. A variety of personalities to be reached by a variety of Spirit-filled men and women. Dare we criticise the ways of the Almighty! “God moves in a mysterious w r ay. His wonders to perform, He plants His footsteps in the sea And rides upon the storm. Ye fearful saints fresh courage take, The clouds ye so much dread Are big with mercy and shall break in blessings on your head. “Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust Him for His grace, Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face. Blind unbelief is sure to err And scan His works in vain. God is His own interpreter And He will make it plain.” —R C GREEN (Dominion Evang. Supt.)

Bishop Ralph H. Cushman’s message to the 9,000,000 Methodists of the U S A.:—“We are not going to have a revival of religion in America, until the Church faces social evils, like the Liquor Traffic. . . . The solving of the Liquor problem is primarily your job.”