Thoughtful Moments

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 280, 7 March 1941, Page 6

Thoughtful Moments

OUR SUNDAY MESSAGE (Supplied by the Whakatanc Ministers' Association).

A DAILY PRAYER "Our Father in heaven,, we pray Thee to send into our hearts and into the hearts of all men everywhere the spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ." "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith." Jesus Christ (Mathew 6: 28-30): In his very fine book "The Jesus of History," Dr. T. R. Glover draws a contrast between Jesus and Paul regarding their attitudes to nature. St. Paul, lie says, is conspicuously a man of the town—"a citizen of no mean city" as he is proud to call himself. He has little to say about animals and has hardly an allusion to the familiar and homely aspects of nature, which are so frequent and pleasant in the speech of Jesus. He finds nature groaning together, subject to vanity,, in bondage to. corruption, travailing in pain. "The Avhole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now." (Romans 8:22).

"Nature is far less tragic for Jesus, far happier—perhaps because He knew nature on closer terms of intimacy; Nature, as he portrays things, is in nearer touch with the Heavenly Father than we should guess from Pan;, and there is no hint in his recorded words that he held the ground to be under a curse. Tf we are to use abstract terms and philosophize 'its thought a little, we may agree that the four facts Jesus notes in Nature are its mystery, its regularity, its impartiality and its peace!'ulness. Man can count safely on earth's co-operation. From it all, and in it all, Jesus read deep into God's mind and methods."

"Consider the lilies of tlie field." says Jesus. He would have us pause and ponder over the unrivalled beauty of the common flower growing at our feet. "Even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." Yet we hurry along the way heedless of the beauty of the Avayside. We are so engrossed with other things, our eyes are fixed on other objectives and w r e fail to read the lessons on the way. O stop and consider! The delicate beauty of the flower teaches us of God's interest in each of us. "If God so clothe the grass . . . Still He not much more clothe you?" Be not over anxious then, but learn to trust in God." In God's estimation one person is worth more than the whole material world. M What shall it profit a man

if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" Surely those who are obsessed with worldliness should consider these words. What a judgment on our scientific age, that would exalt the machine over man ! "Consider the lilies of the field." These are charming words. There is rhythm and music in them. They linger in the memory. Yet they also stir the depths of the soul by reason of their profound truth. We live in an unthinking age., despite the fact that there has never been so great insistence upon scholar ship and encouragement given to learning. Yet there is little serious thought given to the deeper things of life. True consideration of the purpose and meaning of life is at n discount, and yet nothing is more important if we are to achievc healthy, happy and peaceful living. In our quest for intellectual power. we are inclined to overlook the needs of the soul. Perhaps we have become over-concerned about making good in life, instead of making good lives. As the result, we witness the tragedy of a scientific, learned age harnessed to ungodliness. "Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." If we will but adjust our- values so that first things occupy the foremost positions, then these other things fill a real place and make a true contribution to' life. From the teaching of Jesus, even the common wayside flowers seek to impress these considerations upon us, with the consequent change of action and life. Let us then give due consideration to the message of the flowers, to these prophets of the everyday, and we shall peep into the heart of eternal truth. \ "You've seen the world—■ The beauty and the wonder and the power. The shapes of things, their colours, lights and shades, ! Changes, surprises,—and God made it all!— For what? Do you feel thankful, aye or no, For this fair town's face, yonder river's line, The mountain round it and the sky above, Much more the figures of man, woman, child. These are the frame to? What's it all about? To be passed ever, despised? <»r dwelt upon, Wondered at?" Browning. "O God, open our eyes to see Thee everywhere; may the flowers and trees and the green grass, the sea, the sky and the stars, the birds and all the creatures thou hast made, and the works and labour of man continually speak to us of Thee; that we may live as Thy glad children in our Father's world."