DEVOTIONAL COLUMN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 156, 1 June 1940, Page 12

DEVOTIONAL COLUMN

FREE WILL. God does not force us back to Himself. The Father did not send a chariot into the far country and bring back the Prodigal Son. The Prodigal Son liatl to come to himself: he had to change his mind. He had to see that his father was right and that he was wrong, and then humbly to retrace his steps. And when he came back of his own free will, having had a change of mind, there was the kiss, and the robe, and the ring, and the shoes.— A. Lindsay Glegg. NOT TAXABLE. A tax collector came to a poor minister to assess his property. When asked how much he possessed, the minister replied, “I am a rich man. I am the possessor of a Saviour who has prepared a place for us in the Eternal City.” “And what else have you?” asked the tax collector. “Healthy and obedient children.” “And what else ” “That is all,” replied the minister. The official arose to leave and said, “You are indeed a rich man; but your property is not subject to taxation.” THE SOURCE OF WISDOM. Ex-President Hoover said: “There is no other book so varied as the Bible, nor one so full of concentrated wisdom. Whether it be of the law, business, morals, or that vision which leads the imagination in the creation of constructive enterprises for the happiness of mankind, he who seeks lor guidance in any of these things may look inside its covers and find illumination. The study of this Book is a postgraduate course in the richest library of human experience.” A REFUGE FROM THE STORM. When the human heart is full of cares and troubles such as come to every life, and the soul is crushed by heavy burdens, there is no sweeter and surer relief than_ to fly to the sacred presence of Him who never fails to lift the load of sorrow from the suffering one. If the path of duty is lost, if the wanderer is bewildered, how oft, has all been made plain by the sweet soul-communion with Jesus J CHRISTIAN DISCIPLINE. In the ranks of the Christian army there* must' be no setting aside or discipline, else there would be too surely a courting of disaster. Each one in the army of the living God has a post—his own post too. He must not complain of it; he must not desert it; he must not exchange it for another. It has been assigned to him by the Head of the Church, and “it is required that a man be found faithful.” SAVING FAITI-l. What is the right kind of faith ? _ The right kind of faith is faith in the right Saviour. And there is but one Saviour for sinners—the Lord Jesus Christ. „ . . The least little bit of faith in Christ brings salvation. The poor woman, who onlv touched the hem of Christ’s garment, was made perfectly whole at once. . , Weak faith in Christ secures salvation. Strong faith in Christ brings assurance. —I.F.

FRAGRANCE. In a certain valley in Rumania there is a most beautiful garden containing nothing but rose 6. When the season is at its height the perfume is such that if you visit the garden, and come hack to the city, people know at once where you have been. lou cany the fragrance with you. Is it not, then, as true, if we frequent the presence of God, delighting in the glory, and excellencies of Christ, we may come back to the city and shed the fragrance of His presence around. —IV. FINDLAY. YOUR CHOICE. Set the world, with all its glory, and wealth, and pleasure, and honour on one hand; and.then set God with ail His infinite excellencies and perfections on the other; then see that thou deliberately make thy choice. Take up thv rest in God. Sit down under His shadow. Take Him for all He is. He is more than all the world. GOD’S METHOD. When God intends to fill a soul, He firet makes it empty; when He intends to enrich a soul, He first makes it poor; when He intends to exalt a soul. He-first makes it humble ; ,when He intends to save a soul, He first makes it sensible of its own miseries, wants and nothingness, and then fills it with Himself, which is unspeakably glorious. This is the fullness of New Testament privilege for every Christian. CONSTANT CLEANSING. It is a great act of eternal love when Christ once for all absolves the sinner, and puts him in the family of God; but what condescending patience I there is when the Saviour with much I long-suffering bears tne oft-recurring follies of His wayward disciples; day bv dav. hour by hour, washing away the multiplied transgressions of His ‘ errin" but vet beloved child. ‘ —C. H. SPURGEON.