January, 1935
T H E K I N G S B U S I N E S S
The Secret of Inward Teace I n nothing be anxious; but in everything by B y ROBERT EXCELL FRY* Augusta, Georgia “ Be not anxious about anything.” Yet this is the word from God to those who are “ in Christ Jesus.” Not only here, but over and over it is made clear in the sacred Scriptures that the bane o f life is care, and that something should and can be done about it in the Christian’s experi ence. The psalmist enjoins, “ Fret not thyself,” in em phatic repetition. Our Lord, in the Sermon on the Mount, indicates freedom from anxiety as a kingdom virtue: “ Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink.” “ Why are ye anxious concerning raiment ?” “ Be not therefore anxious for the morrow.”
prayer and supplication with th a n k s g iv in g let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understand ing, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus." Christian Calm— The Conquest of Care—The Antidote f o r Anxiety— The Worsting o f Worry — surely these are con ceptions to rivet the at tention during troublous times! Who does not at many points in life’s ex perience need this inti mate and beautiful testi
But what can be done? What is the antidote for anxiety, the cure for care? The answer is apparently so simple, so familiar, that our first inclination may be to turn away with something akin to impatience. “ In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer . . .” Prayer? But we say that we have prayed, and we still are bur dened with anxiety. But this is a particular program, carefully presented, and commended to the worried as a specific for their overwhelming sense o f care. There are four phases in this care-dispelling process of prayer, indi cated by four distinct words— and these deserve our thoughtful consideration. “ P rayer ” ( Proseuche ) It is a special word, and we lose its basic significance in our English translation. Very literally, the word means “ coming to.” It is the first and fundamental step. W e have been worrying, and we have, for the time, forgotten that we have a God to whom we can come. This is merely the first step toward Him. As yet there is no thought o f petition, o f asking Him for things. It is just the remem brance of Him and the return to Him. Perhaps the act means relaxing the tension and the beginning o f “ casting all your care upon him.” But it is only the beginning, “ A nd S upplication ” ( Deesei ) Do ‘you say: Surely here
mony to the inner values o f the life which is in Christ? In the background is the apostolic testimony to the “ prize o f the high calling o f God in Christ Jesus.” Surely this is nothing less than the fact that “ our citizenship is in heaven; whence also we wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: who shall fashion anew the body o f our humilia tion, that it may be conformed to the body o f his glory, according to the working whereby he is able even to subject all things unto himself.” Surely such a heritage summons us to response in our daily round o f living. “ Wherefore, my brethren beloved . . . so stand fast in the Lord,” is an appropriate and
basic injunction. Euodia and Syntyche, faithful women of the Philippian church, may well patch up their petty dif ferences and “ be o f the same mind in the Lord.” The “ true yokefellow,” who is minister ing to this group of believers, may well devote himself to “ help these women” into the way of restored peace and con sequent effectiveness o f testi mony and service. W e are led on to vital ex periences. “ Rejoice in the Lord always.” Why not? In the light o f the “ high calling,” nothing other than joy should be the dominating motif o f the Christian’s daily life. “ Let your forbearance (French, douceur, “ sweetness” ) be known unto all men.” Keep sweet, for “ the Lord is at hand.” And then, “ In nothing . he anxious Who can receive this ? “ Re joice always.” “ Keep sweet.”
HIS WINGS B y E. M argaret C la r k s o n "Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things .”^Matthew 6 :32 Thy heavenly Father knoweth thy need of all these things— Then why shouldst thou be fearful, and chafe, beneath His wings? And stir, and look about thee, some other way to see, As if thou couldst not trust Him to do the best for theel Thy heavenly Father knoweth thy need of all these things— Canst thou not cease thy striving, and trust, beneath His wings? Didst ever know a father, a loving father true, Who would not for his children do aught that he could do? Then how much more thy Father, who gave Himself for thee, Shall freely give thee all things that for thy good shall be! Thy heavenly Father knoweth thy need of all these things— Protected by His presence, be still beneath His wings! For He, thy Father, knoweth-r-yes, knoweth all thy needs— The One who clothes the lily, whose hand the raven feeds, Knows all thy little worries, each anxious wave of care, Thy need of food and shelter, and raiment fit to wear; Thy heavenly Father knoweth thy need of all these things— Draw closer to His bosom, and rest beneath His Wings! Cast all thy care upon Him, for He doth care for thee, And dear art thou unto Him— more dear thou couidst not be! Fret not because He leadeth in ways thou canst not know; The path He's trod before thee, and knows which way to go; Thy heavenly Father knoweth thy need of all these things— Then, trusting in His wisdom, rejoice beneath His wings!
is reference to asking for the things that are heavy upon our hearts? Not yet. The word used by the apostle has no such s i g n i f i c an c e . Primarily it means “ need.” Secondly, and in this passage, it refers to the confessing o f need, to the at titude of supplication because of that need. In the midst of overwhelming care, we remem ber God and return to Him. Before Him we cast ourselves in utter abandonment of any self-sufficiency; “ Save, Lord, or we perish.” “W ith T hanksgiving ” ( Eucharistias ) Just here is inserted a beau tiful word. Perhaps it is a familiar word, for we speak o f the Lord’s Supper as the [Continued on page 14]
*Pastor, First Presbyterian Church.
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker