for them, He made them His people. The Lord, in His marvelous love, holds on to the people. In sovereign grace He promises to bring them back to Himself. The day will come when a nation will be born in a day. God will claim Israel as His own even as He foretells in this picture from Hosea. Verses 27 and 28 give the illustra tion from Isaiah, “Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.” The day will come when the work will be cut short. This quota tion suggests the foundation of Is rael’s national salvation, even as it is the basis of our personal salvation today. H EAVEN 'S GIFT An interesting story of aviation is re counted by POPULAR MECHANICS magazine. A Mrs. Evy Rogers, living on Jamaica, was one day out in her back yard hanging up clothes. All of a sud den a wet, flopping fish dropped out of the clear sky. Since she had very little she just considered it a gift from heav en. It was in her frying pan that night. The miraculous delivery of a fresh fish, however, didn’t end there. It became the talk and mounting mystery of all Jamai ca. News spread far and wide, with most people doubting that it ever could happen. Then from Pan American Air ways word came declaring that the fish had evidentally “hitchhiked” on a flight of its New York bound clipper. As the plane had taken off from the bay, the fish had been securely caught in the acute angle formed by the after sup porting struts of the aircraft. The briny creature had probably wriggled free over Mrs. Rogers’ backyard scoring a near miss on her head. Jamaicans still talk about the unusual gift from• the sky. Think how many wonderful and practi cal gifts the Lord provides for us each day from heaven. The Saviour Himself, of course, is the paramount bestowment of God’s love gifts. Then, day by day He loads us with blessings and mercies. The next time the outlook is bad, try the uplook!
THE EARTHEN VESSEL The Master stood in H is garden, Am on g the lilies so fair, W h ich H is own right hand had planted. A n d trained with tend'rest care; H e looked at their snowy blossoms, A n d m ark'd with observant eye. That H is flowers were sadly drooping, For their leaves were parch'd and dry. " M y lilies have need to be watered," The heavenly M aster said, "W h e re in shall I draw it for them, A n d raise each drooping h e a d ?" Close, close to H is feet on the path way, A ll empty, and frail, and small, W as an earthen vessel lying, That seemed of no use at all. But the M aster saw, and raised it From the dust in which it lay, A n d smiled as H e gently whispered, " M y work you shall do today; Y o u are but an earthen vessel, But close you are lying to M e; You are small, but clean and empty— That is all one needs to b e !" So forth to the fountain He bore it, A n d filled it full to the brim; How glad was the earthen vessel To be of some use to Him. H e poured forth the living water A ll over H is lilies so fair, Till empty was the vessel, A n d again He filled it there. The drooping lilies he watered, Till all reviving again, The Master saw with pleasure H is labor had not been in vain; H is own hand drew the water, Refreshing the thirsty flowers; But He used the earthen vessel To convey the living showers. A n d then to itself it whispered, A s aside H e laid it once more, " I still will lie in H is pathway, Just where I did before; For close would I keep to the Master, A n d empty would I remain, Perchance some day H e may use me To water H is flowers again."
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