difficulty in knowing his father’s will, but when he had sinned and gone to thè far country, there was no fellow ship, no’ companionship, no mutual help at all. And fel lowship could ife)t be restored until the son had confessed his sin. The same thing is true in the life o f every Christian. While, if a Christian sins, his salvation is not in jeopardy, there is no question but that his fellowship is impaired. God, who delights to use the Christian as a channel o f blessing, finds this impossible because the channel is choked by sin which is allowed or excused. What should one do in regard to sin ? There need be no question here, for the divine formula is given as a suffi cient remedy. We are to confess our sin in God’s ears and know the joy o f the restoration o f sweet communion (1 John 1 :9 ). However, confession in this case is a deep heart exercise. The root meaning is to take your stand with God and look on your sin as He looks on it-—to hate it, to abhor it, to turn from it in deep contrition. Nor need we wait for stated intervals to confess and be cleansed. We should confess as often as we sin, and as often as the Holy Spirit brings this to our mmu. Then and only then, can we have clear sailing to know the full will o f God for our lives. Is there sin in your life? His Will Brings Rewards There’s tremendous satisfaction in knowing that you’re in the center o f God’s will. There’s a peace and joy be yond comparison when you realize that your life is being put to the highest possible advantage. There’s a satis faction beyond comparison to realize that you are a part ner with God in the greatest enterprise the world has ever known— even the proclamation of the eternal truth o f God. But, my dear friend, there is more than all this for you, if your life is in the center of God’s will. The Scriptures tell very clearly that salvation is a free gift o f God, and is not obtained by living a good life, and is not purchased by good works (Rom. 6 :23 ; Tit. 3 :5 ; Eph. 2:8, 9). When we say that “ Jesus paid it all,” we mean absolutely that. On the other hand, there is a glori ous truth shining out o f the pages o f the New Testament, which reveals that for every piece o f true service lovingly done for the sake o f Christ, there will be eternal and incomparable rewards! (Rev. 22 :12). Our Lord Himself will take note o f our every good work, even to the giving o f a cup of cold water in His name (Mark 9 :41 ). When life’s time shall have merged into eternity’s ages, one o f the first events that will take place will be the judgment seat o f Christ (2 Cor. 5 :10 ). There all o f God’s children from every age will stand before God’s Son (Rom. 14:10-12). Their works and their service will be minutely examined. Some o f God’s children, having served supposedly for Christ but in reality for self, will find their works burned away and nothing but ashes left (1 Cor. 3:11-16). Others o f God’s children who have served in the center o f God’s will self-sacrificingly, and faithfully, will find themselves richly rewarded and they will be praised by the lips o f the Son of God Himself who will say, “ Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” Were all the thrills o f this world rolled into one great one, this would not even begin to compare with the ecstasy that will be ours some day when before God and the holy angels, our blessed Saviour mentions our name and says, “ Well done” (Matt. 25:21). That will be the reward of those who have found, and have stayed in, the center of the will o f God. The fulfillment o f the plan and purpose o f God brings eternal and imperishable rewards. To those who have S E P T E M B E R I 9 S 0 ______________________________________________________
Prayer For A New House
Walk through the rooms of this house, dear Lord, Making them fair and sweet. May every wall know the touch of Thy hand, Each floor the print of Thy feet. Help us to look through Thine eyes, dear Lord , To stand at our windows and see Not commonplace people who walk the streets, But souls who have need of Thee. Kindle a fire on our hearth, dear Lord, Warming all who might come. Build Thou an altar where prayer shall arise, For prayer is the heart of the home.
Sit at our table with us, dear Lord, Making each meal a feast,
Breaking the bread, and pouring the wine, Our Host and our Guest and our Priest. Dwell in the rooms of our house, dear Lord, Making it sweet and fair,
Till even the people passing will say, "The blessed Lord Jesus lives there!"
— Martha Snell Nicholson
lived in the center o f His will some day our precious Lord will say, “Well done . . . good and faithful servant.” That will make life’s trials and hardships worth-while, and will be the most thrilling o f all eternity. d osed Doors also Indicate The will of God may not always be indicated by doors that are open. Sometimes God’s guidance is shown by closed doors. There is a Scripture which reveals that “ the steps o f a good man are ordered by the Lord” (Psa. 37:23). It is also true that the stops o f a good man are ordered by the Lord as well. Look at this New Testament incident: The Apostle Paul was on his second missionary journey and planned to go south in Asia Minor to preach in new territory (Acts 16:6-11). But the Spirit o f God closed the door. So Paul about-faced and endeavored to go north along the shores o f the Black Sea. Again the door was closed. Now, unless he wanted to backtrack, there was no place to go but straight ahead to Troas and eventually to Europe. But God was in this as subsequent events proved. David Livingstone was on his way to become a mis sionary in China, but closed doors forced him to turn aside and enter the vast dark continent o f Africa. Yet this was God’s leading. Adoniram Judson was headed for India, but doors closed upon him and he turned to Burma where God mightily used him. Natural gifts may play a part too. It’s quite possible ___________________ Page Seventeen
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