PRAYER continued
willing to exercise His power, I am no better off. Ah, yes, let us doubt His power rather than His willing ness. “ The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion” (Ps. 145:8). “ . . . He de l i gh t e t h in mercy” (Micah 7:18). God answers prayer! God answers prayer! He longs thy joys and griefs to share; Oh, praise His name for He doth care! Thy heavenly Father answers prayer. Read, if you will, Matthew 20: '30-34— “ And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David. And the multitude rebuked them, be cause they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David. And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they fol lowed him.” Luke 7:13— “ And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.” Mark 1:40,41— “ And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus, moved with com passion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.” Matthew 14: 14— “ And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.” Has He changed? Is He not the same loving, compassionate Saviour that He was 1900 years ago? Where is there any record of a change? He is spoken of as “ Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to day and forever.” He is the same in power, the same in ability, the same in willingness, the same in compassion, with a heart that feels for every suffering child; a heart that yearns and loves and cares, touched with the feeling of our in firmities; and He still wants to manifest His compassion as of old. God answers prayer. END. THE KING'S BUSINESS
the Might of S A C R I F I C E
W hen the spirit of God has shed abroad the love of God in our hearts, we begin deliberately to identify ourselves with Jesus Christ’s interests in other people, and Jesus Christ is interested in every kind of man there is. W e have no right in Christian work to be guided by our affinities; this is one of the biggest tests of our relationship to Jesus Christ. The delight of sacrifice is that I lay down my life for my Friend, not fling it away, but deliberately lay my life out for Him and His interests in other people, not for a cause. Paul spent himself for one purpose only — that he might win men to Jesus Christ. Paul attracted to Jesus all the time, never to himself. Natural love expects some return, but Paul says — I do not care whether you love me or not, I am willing to destitute myself completely, not merely for your sakes, but that I may get you to God. "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor.” Paul’s idea of service is exactly along that line — I do not care with what extravagance I spend myself, and I will do it gladly. It was a joyful thing to Paul. The ecclesiastical idea of a servant of God is not Jesus Christ’s idea. Flis idea is that we serve Him by being the servants of other men. He says that in His kingdom he that is greatest shall be the servant of all. The real test of the saint is not preaching the gospel, but washing disciples’ feet, that is, doing the things that do not count in the actual estimate of men but count everything in the estimate of God. Paul delighted to spend himself out for God’s interests in other people, and he did not care what it cost. W e come in with our economical notions — "Suppose God wants me to go there — what about the salary? What about the climate? How shall I be looked after? A man must consider these things.” All that is an indication that we are serving God with a reserve. The apostle Paul had no reserve. Paul focuses Jesus Christ’s idea of a New Testa ment saint in his life, viz.: not one who proclaims the gospel merely, but one who becomes broken bread and poured out wine in the hands of Jesus Christ for others. ( Included in "My Utmost for His Highest,” Dodd, Mead (3 Co., New York.) — O sw a l d C h am ber s 12
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