Devotional Column

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7281, 7 October 1933, Page 4

Devotional Column

Precept The servant of the Lord must not strive; but bo gentle unto all men. . 2 Tim. 2. 21. Promise Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. Zocli. 4. 6. Praise In the day of my trouble I will call upon Thee, for Thou Mlt answer me. Psa. 86. 7.

“TEN MEN OR TWO MEN.” Ten men who failed to see Goa saw the cities wore fenced and high; Two men “looking off” unto God Saw God’s day for those cities draw nigh.

Ton men who failed to see God Saw tbo giants wore great and tall; Two men “looking off” unto God By faith counted giants but small.

Ten men who failed to sec God Failed Him, and their brethren too; Two men “looking off'” unto God Cried, “Onr Lord will carry us through! ’’

Teu men who failed to seo God Discouraged their brother men; Two men saw their God everywhere; Arc WE of the Two or the Ten?

THE ABILITY OP THE ALMIGHTY.

I was eating a piece of water melon years ago, and was struck with its beauty. I took some of the seeds and dried them. I found that it would require 5000 seeds to weigh a pound, and then I applied mathematics to that four-pound melon. One of these seeds put into the ground, when warmed by the sun and moistened by the rain, takes off its coat and goes to work, it gathers from somowhere 20,000 Times its Own Weight, and, forcing this raw material through a tiny stem, constructs a water melon. It ornaments the outside with green, inside the green it puts a layer of white, and. within the white a coat of. red, and all through the red it scatters seeds, each one capable of continuing the work of. reproduction. What architect drew the plan? Where does that little seed get its tremendous strougth. Where does it? How does it collect the flavouring extract? How does it build a water melon? Until yon can explain a water melon, do not be too sure that you can limit the ability of the ALmighty, or say just what Ho would do or how Ho would do it. Everything that lives in liko manner mocks by its mystery, beauty, and power (ho ’proud intellect of presumptuous man. —Wm. Jennings Bryan. WANTED—A. WORKER God nover goes to tho idle when He needs men for His sorvice. When God wants a worker, Ho calls for a worker. When He has work to bo done, He goes to those who are already at work. When god wants a. great servant Ho calls a busy man. Scripture and history attest this truth. Moses was busy with his flocks at Horeb. Gideon was busy threshing whoat by the press. Saul was busy searching for his father’s lost beasts. David was busy caring for his father’s sheep. ! Elisha was busy ploughing with twelve yoke of oxen. Amos was busy following the flock. Nchemiali was busy bearing tho king’s wine cup. Peter and Andrew were busy casting a net into the sea. James and John were busy mending their nets. Matthew was busy collecting customs. Saul was busy persecuting the friends of Jesus. William Carey was busy mending and making shoes. IF X BELIEVED I CODED NEVER HOLD ON, That is right. You never could hold on, and the more deeply you feel it tho better; only remember, that if tho Lord takes you up, He always can hold on. Open your Bible and read Luke x. 30-35. The Samaritan not only saved the life of the poor victim, but ho “set him on his own boast., brought him to an inn, arid took caro of him.” Jesus not only cures but carries. Ho not only saves but keeps. The fact is that when a man is converted ho is thoroughly revolutionised. He starts with new tastes and new- desires. “A. new man iu a new world,” as Martin Luther put it. Moreover, he receives the gift of 'the Holy Spirit, and by this living link ho is bound to his Lord. Thus it is that the believer holds on his way. He holds fast because ho is held fast. TRUSTWORTHY MEANS OF TRANSPORT When a bus is completed it must be tested before it is allowed to run as a means of transport. It is necessary that it should have the right ballast. There must not be too much weight on top lest it endanger tho lives of the 'travellers through risk of capsizing. The bulk of tho weight must be in the central part. So it is with one who is in the Master’s service. He must have 'proper ballast. If there is too much weight on top he is liable to come to grief. The servant of Christ must not have too weighty an opinion of himself; he must get rid of any nuspicion of “swelled head” before he can be of any real service to God or tho public. Let tlio bulk of the weight be in a central position, i.e., the heart. If tho love of God is shed abroad in his heart by the Holy Ghost, the'ballast is in the right place. Thcro is no danger of accident.. Ho will be used in God’s service and. recognised by tho public as safe and reliable. Men and women

will be safely transported from earth to heaven by means of Him. WHY I GO TO CHURCH ON RAINY SUNDAYS (By Francos Ridley Havergal.) 1. Because God has blessed the Lord’s Day and hallowed it, making no exception for rainy Sundays. 2. I expect my minister to bo there. I should bo surprised if he were to stay at home for weather. 3. If his hand fail through weakness I shall bo to blame unless I sustain him by my prayer and presence. 4. My Presence is more needful when there are few than on days when the church is crowded. 5. My example influences others. If I stay away why may not they? 6. On any important business rainy weather does not keep me at home, and church attendance is in God’s sight very important. 7. Among pleasure-seekers I see no weather keeps delicate people from the ball, the party, or concert. 8. Such weather will test me. It will prove how much I lovo Christ. True lovo rarely fails to keep an appointment. 3. My excuses must be well grounded to bear God’s scrutiny (Luke 14: 18). 10. There is a special promise that where two or three meet together in God’s name He will be in tho midst of them. 11. An avoida.blo absence from church is an infallible evidence of spiritual decay. 12. I know not how many more Sundays God may give me. It would be a poor preparation for my first Sunday in heaven to have slighted my last Sunday on earth.