The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1902-09-11

healed and the devil-possessed people
were delivered from their awful bond
age. Then they began to know such
joy as only the disciple of Christ can
know who gives in the name of the
Master. s,ss,ss4
Here is the secret of true giving. A
giving that is profigate of self and
seeks alone the welfare Of the re-
cipient is the way in which Heaven
gives and echoes the declaration of
Christ that HE that loseth his life for
Ny sake, shall find it." Here is the un-
derlying motive which distinguishes
the giving of the children of God from
that of the giving of the world. IF
ye love them which love you, what re-
ward have We? Do not even the pub
licans the same?" And if you give to
them from whom you expect to receive
In return what reward have you?
"But when thou doest aims, let not thy
left hand know what thy right hand
doeth." And when thou makest din
ner or supper, call not thy friends,
nor thy brethren, neither thy kins-
men, nor thy rich neighbors; lest they
also bid thee again and recompense
be made thee. But when thou makest
a feast call the poor, the MANNED. the
lame, the blind; and thou shalt be
blessed; for they cannot recompense
thee; for thou shalt be recompensed
at the resurrection of the just" Paul
writes to the Corinthians: 'I win very
gladly spend and be spent for you,"
and to the brethren at Ephesus he
preached the doctrine of giving and
besought them ito remember tho
words of the Lord Jesus, how He said:
1T is more blessed to give than to re-
ceive.'"
The simplest service can be gforified
by being given in the name Of the Mas
ter. So many dear disciples of Christ
withhold because they have no large
gift of money, or talents, or abilities,
forgetting that special mention IL
made by Scripture of the widows mite
and the cupful of cold water, while the
large gifts are belittled by Christ de-
claring that the widow gave more than
they all, and the giver of the cupful of
cold water is promised reward, while
those who had prophesied in His name
and done many mighty works but had
left the little things undone were not
recognized as disciples at all or even
admitted to Heaven.
Astounding to Every Good Work
This is wonderful privilege and be-
longs to those who are disciples OF
Christ and who have learned the source
of true poweran and blessing. tits the out
growth of faith that God will "make
all the grace abound" and that always,
you will "have all sufficiency Of all
things" This is the life Christ lived.
This is the lesson He taught His disci-
pies. The Gospel message needed the
fruits of good work to give it a tangible
basis of operation. 1t must necessarily
be the medium through which any eff
fective work can be done for Christ.
For Astounding to every good work"
is the outward evidence of the inward
possession Of the call grace Of God"
It has been the privilege of the
Highway and Byway" preacher to
wheel across country during the sum-
mer days, and the avenues of service to
others which have opened up by the
wayside have been revelation to him.
While pondering on the text we have
before us county poorhouse doomed
up on one side of the road. Unexpect-
edly, while enjoying the charming
verdure and scenery on each side OF the
roadway, an opportunity came OF bear
ing the message of glad tidings to poor
outcasts whom the Lord was yearning
to adopt as sons, and fill with tho
brightness Of the hope OF Heavens
glory. A CHEEKY word to each, little
card with Scripture verse upon it and
q hearty "God bless you," brought
ray of light from the presence OF God
into their lives that will abide through
time, and we pray through eternity,
for the little seed sown may spring up
into everlasting life through faith in
Christ Jesus. AS we talked of man.
sions in the skies which Jesus has gone
to prepare for them that love Him,
eyes moistened, and new hope shono
out of eyes which had been listless and
discouraged when we came.
| A little farther along the road we
met group Of urchins, whose world
was bounded by the limits OF the farm.
| A pleasant word, accompanied by
pretty card, won their confidence, and
we soon learned that they had never
been to Sunday school and did not
| know who Jesus Christ was. But their
hearts readily opened up to the
/ thought of Saviour and never-failing
friend, and we left them absorbed in
the new Friend who had come to visit
them that day through the medium Of
my short talk. 8Jr
As I pedaled along, how rejoiced
in the tall grace" OF God givensto me,
and realized the possession as gave
in a spirit of prayer to others. It
deepened the lesson had been learn
ing, and / determined that more of
the grace of God should abound in
my heart, because gave more. Freely
had I received all Of Gods fullness
and blessing, freely would I give.
Dear friend, if you would know the
secret Of JOY and happiness, begin to