Sabbatic rest into which we shall by and by enter is unending, unbroken, eternal. It will be marked by the ab sence of all those disturbing influ- THANKSGIVING Three hundred sixty-five days in a year, Yet only one day for God; To thank Him for showing us, step by step, The paths that His feet have trod. Only one day of the whole, long year, To whisper our thanks and praise; For we're busy requesting the things we want, Three hundred and sixty-four days! Only one day when the selfish world Remembers its teachings and creed; We're too busy praying Him foolish prayers For things that we think we need; Too busy asking Him "w h y" and "when," To spare Him the time to laud; Three hundred sixty-four days of re quest— Just one day of thanks, for God. One day to thank Him for Life and Love; The sun in the sky of blue; One day to worship in solemn awe, and Tell Him, "Yea, God 'tis You!" To thank Him for seasons, for every thing! For trees, and a blossom's nod; Only one day, does the selfish world Remember its manners to God! But surely in Infinite Wisdom and Love He knows, and He understands; He looks with compassion on bended knees, Bowed heads, and on folded hands. He knows we are selfish, but He knows, too. That our hearts are oft unex pressed. That we're thankful, e'en tho He had just one day, For thanks; and we beg, the rest!
craves. Sweet are the moments which can be stolen from the bustle and noise of the world, to be spent in that presence of God which seems to calm into silence every fibre of our rest less brain. But can we conceive how sweet it will be when we shall be de livered from the thought of going back into the world again, which so often intrudes upon us now; and shall know that, instead of going amid scenes so uncongenial we shall have but to rise higher and yet higher, and sink lower and still lower, in the knowledge of God which is eternal life? Yea, this is what eternal life will be—a growing in the knowledge of God (John 1 7 :3 ). This is the busi ness of the Christian’s life, here and hereafter. Every day is lost which has not given us a deeper insight into the infinite, unsearchable God. Will not this be rest indeed? No more sur rounded by the works of the devil, by his snares which need such constant watchfulness; no more encumbered by this burdensome tabernacle, in which we have so often groaned. Oh, what will it be to be rid of this body! With what a sigh of relief we shall realize it can no more clog our ef forts, chain us to earth, and drag down the soul when it seeks to rise into the realm of the Spirit.” Having entered into His rest, the thought in verse 10 is not that we are to cease working for God, but that our work is henceforth regarded as His who worketh in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Phil. 2 :1 3 ). Verses 12 and 13 speak of the writ ten and the living Word. That which was preached did not profit them. The fault was not in the Word but in the hearts which failed to respond to it. The written word of God has five great characteristics: it is living ac tive, sharp, penetrating, discerning (verse 12 ) ; while the Living Word is omniscient and is the One with whom we have to do (verse 13). Let us come to the Word and allow it to search, and cut, and penetrate, and criticize everything in us that is con trary to the mind of God. 35
ences which characterize our present state; and the presence of all the har monious and blessed conditions and circumstances w h ich our n a tu r e
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