The Devotional Period

White Ribbon, Volume 29, Issue 9, 1 May 1958, Page 4

The Devotional Period

Deuteronomy 22:8, "When thou buildest a house

willingly dispense with Sunday altogether, and our apparent indifference to its sacredness, strengthens their arguments and weakens the Christian cause. The third wall is that of Total Abstinence. No longer anle to ignore damage wrought by alcohol the world busies itseli by advocating moderate drinking Our aim is not merely to keep ourselves above major crime; it is to do justly, to mercv, and to walk humbly before our God. Of alcoholic drinks A A. quotes, "One is too many, a thousand is not enough. The only safe way is none at all."

Christianity is linked with responsibility As soon PC belong to Christ, our personal jntercstS dwindle in importance, and our thoughts and our efforts are more and more with others This spirit, so evident in Christ, our perfect example, particularly evident in the lives of people such II Mary Slessor, Elizabeth FYy, Frances Willard, Catherine Booth, and many good women of our day The houses of the hast were very simple, boxlike buildings with one or more divisions. All were furnished with an outside stone stairway in order to reach the roof, For the blind, the aged, and the \ery young, this Smooth, unprotected roof could spell disaster and the lo\ ing God of the Children Ol Israel decreed a protecting wall on each side oi the roof This was a "second mile" service, more ated In our minds with New Testament • than with Old Testament practice. Hut our God H changeless; yesterday, today and er, He is the same

The fourth wall is the Optimism of Faith Faith in God is faith in goodness and h <town attractiveness. The Eighth Army in the He *rt were having a bad time They had won no ent ments and every soldier felt in his heart that Ulf enemy was too strong for them. The sight of smah bonfires here and there revealed that secret papers were being burned. Then Montgomery was appointed in command. In his office lay the large paper full of details of the proponed retreat immediately, his attention was drawn to the plan, the product of weeks of work, the new Commander snatched it from the table crying out, "We are not retreating, we are advancing." He tore the plan to pieces, dashing them on the floor to stamp on them The men were summoned to a parade which he addressed, "You will not go into action again until we are assured of victory," he declared. From the confidence of their leader, the men talked victory, visualised victory, expected victory and victory came, changing the whole course of history Fighting and rejoicing bring better results than fighting and lamenting. Seldom does victory come as a surprise; it must be prepared for, something for which we pray and above all, for which we believe Sooner or later, success comes to the man who thinks he can "When thou buildest ? house—the house of like, take into account these four walls of which we have been thinking " Devotions given by Mrs Rankin, (Dominion Corresponding Secretary) at the Palmerston North Convention.)

Let lis call our first wall, The Bible: Reverence for the Bible, its authority and truth, Id be one of the principles cf every Christian home It is not just "a good Book" it is the Word God Even if Heaven and earth should pass away . His Word will endure forever A Christian man hearing ■ quotation that was said to come from the Bible said, "But 1 haven't seen that in my Bible" The speaker explained, "But then our Bible at home is a very old copy." as if the Bible changed from year to vear Our second wall could be "Respect for Sunday" T ic old Christian homes, where things connected wit! the work-a-day week were packed away on Saturday night, bred a fine type of Christian worker, who lived to appreciate the discipline of childhood. It is a sad reflection on our respect for I jaws when Church members are seen buving vegetables, ice cream, and even newspapers on Sundavs The younger people watch us, and. in addition, there are powers in the world who would