CONTRIBUTED.
THE NEED OF
HASTE IN MISSION WORK.
They
are dying by tens! Don't you know it?
Dying without the light.
They
know not Christ as their Saviour;
His cross is hid from their sight.
They
are dying by hundreds! Oh, hear it!
In chains of ignorance bound,
They
see not their need of a Saviour,
The Saviour whom you have found.
They
are dying by thousands! Believe it!
Oh, what are you going to do?
Your
Saviour cares for these lost ones.
And longs to bless them through you.
They
are dying by the millions! Yes, millions
All over the world's wide lands—
In
Africa, India and China.
Can you sit with idle hands?
Dying
while you are sleeping,
Dying while you are at play,
Dying
while you laugh and chatter,
Dying by night and by day.
Some
do not know that they are needy,
Some of them care not at all;
But
Some of them hunger for Jesus,
Yet know not on whom to call.
They
grope for a light in their darkness,
They call on their gods for aid;
There
is no one to tell them of Jesus
And the sinner's debt which he paid.
None,
did I say? 'Twas an error,
For God has a few lights out there;
But
when it's not three to a million,
Oh, won't you begin to care?
—The
Kingdom.
STEADFASTNESS.
MRS. JOSIE
JOHNSON.
God
requires for his service a tested people; a people who can endure
hardships as bold soldiers; a people who are steadfast in confidence
until the fruits of faith are manifest. Paul exhorts the early church
quite frequently to steadfastness and clearly defines the difference
between standing under law and under grace. How beautifully he brings
out the Christ-life in the steadfast believer, and the vast
possibilities of faith and love, as contrasted with man's weaknesses
and imperfections. Under the indwelling Spirit and imparted
righteousness he makes man to abound, and he is described as one
leaning hard upon the husband of the soul. Nehemiah's example of
steadfastness is worthy of emulation. Leaving his position as
cupbearer to the Persian king, he went forth at the command of God to
rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. It was a great undertaking. Many
breaches were to be repaired and much hard work to be done, and
besides, opposition was to be expected, but none of these things moved
him from his purpose to carry out God's command to him. He took his
place on the wall and commenced the work assigned him. This obedience
and loyalty to God did not meet the approval of his enemy—the
wicked One; for Sanballot, Tobiah and Geshem were sent to interfere
with the progress of the work. They tried Nehemiah first by
persuasion, then by trickery, but all to no purpose. He remained
steadfast. "Why should the work cease whilst I leave it and come
down to you?" was the earnest response of this man of God in
reply to the wishes of his enemies; and the work moved steadily
forward toward the accomplishment of God's purpose. Nehemiah and his
helpers turned not to the right nor to the left, for "the people
had a mind to |
work."
Note the secret of their success. When the hour looked the darkest and
prospects for success seemed the most unpromising, then it was that
Nehemiah said, "Nevertheless we made our prayers unto our
God." The entire account of the rebuilding of the wall of
Jerusalem by Nehemiah impresses us with his steadfastness and his
dependence upon God. Is it not true that today certain forces are
calling on the church to come down from the position she has taken in
Christ. Perhaps nothing exasperates the enemy of our souls more than
an inwrought purpose to live for God. There is no time to parley or
compromise with a known foe, for the King's business requires
steadfastness and haste. Even a look down is dangerous and a step down
may prove fatal. As we think of a pillar we form an idea of something
that is solid, unmovable and its place in a building is to uphold, to
be a burden-bearer; thus it is with the steadfast, spirit-filled man
of God; he is to be a burden-bearer to be used in blessing others; of
such Jeremiah says: "For, behold, I have made thee this day a
defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brazen walls against the whole
land." What a sweeping statement. This day a defenced city; this
day an iron pillar; this day brazen walls against the whole land. Do
we believe it?
The
Lord wants more of these steadfast, spirit-filled men and women. The
question of how to reach the masses will then be solved. It will no
longer be, how? but doing it; no longer standing on the order for
going, but going at once. And while some are satisfied to creep along
and are satisfied in working make-believe reforms, these consecrated
lives will be hastening, even running, that the gospel be preached
everywhere.
HONOR
CONFERRED.
MISS CORA
TESTER.
An
honor was conferred upon man when God delegated him as his steward of
the wealth of this world. It was an honor because He saw in him one
worthy to be trusted and one competent to manage to His glory so great
possessions. Individually all mankind are stewards and all will be
required to render an account of his stewardship, whether it be in
monies or talents. The faithful and just steward will render unto, the
Lord that which belongs to Him, and each steward will not be in doubt
as to what that amount is if the language of the heart is:
"My
all to Christ I've given,
My talent, time and voice,
Myself,
my reputation,
This lone way is my choice.
The
cross of Christ I'll cherish,
It's crucifixion bear—
All
hail reproach or sorrow,
If Jesus leads me there."
But
from Scripture as well as from observation, it is evident that all
stewards are not faithful and do not make just returns. Their Lord's
money is invested in bank stock, bonds, highly cultivated lands, fine
residences, elegant equipages, rich apparel, high living and for the
many selfish gratifications of self, while, the Lord's interests go
begging. Reader, to which class of stewards, the just or the unjust,
do you belong? Let us individually examine ourselves and see whether
our stewardship will entitle us to the happy applaudit, "Well
done," or to the just sentence, "Depart ye." Honor
conferred! Has mankind, as stewards, showed himself worthy the honor?
The extent to which Christ's kingdom has been established and his
banner set up among nations is sufficient answer. In-
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