The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1902-07-17

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of ridi, ule of an unbelieving world and
was looked upon as a weak and spirit
less member of the human ia mily, but
the power of God was made perfect
in his submissive weakness when the
ark he had constructed bore him safe
ly on the breast of the mighty flood
while those who prided themselves in
their own strength and wisdom were
resting in watery graves. Abraham, by
his blind obedience to the Divine com.
mand, established nation and pre-
pared the way for the coming OF
Christ. And in Christ we find the per-
feet exemplifcation of the mighty pow
er of God being made perfect in
weakness. When Peter drew his
sword in protection of his Lord
in the Garden of Gethsemane, when
the Roman soldiers and officers Of the
temple came to arrest him, he turned
to that Jealous disciple and said:
"Thinkest thou that I cannot now
pray to my Father, and He shall pres
emily give me more than ~ legions Of
angels?" Yea, verify He might, but
would not, for the strength of God was
to be made perfect in His weakness.
The seeming defeat on the cross, en-
abled Paul to write: "For I am not
ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for
it is the power of God unto salvation
to every one that believeth."
Mans Extremity Gods Opportunity.
And if Goods strength is made per-
feet in weakness" it must needs be
that mans extremity becomes Gods
opportunity. God cannot do much
with the soul that is trusting in its
own strength and wisdom, and will
not recognize need outside of itself.
But let soul get to the end of itself as
did Paul, and the grace of God is found
sufficient and His strength is made
manifest in the confessed weakness.
Jesus couldn't do much for the young
man who came to him seeking the way
of eternal life because he was trust
ing in the riches he was not willing to
give up; but across the lake of Galilee,
| in the country of the Gadarenes, He
met the poor demon-possessed man.,
and in answer to his cry gave him de-
1iverance. The thief on the cross who
came to the end of himself and turned
to Christ for help soon found himself
| in Paradise with his Lord. The other
| thief on the cross who stubbornly re-
fused to recognize the Christ, but re-
| viled Him, passed on into darkness
and eternal death. In the one, mans
extremity became Gods opportunity.
In the other, mans extremity worked
for him his own destruction.
The helpless sinner at Jesus feet is
raised up cleansed and saved soul.
God has to get man down before He
can help him up. Man cannot step
from his own sufficiency into the King
dom of God. He must realize desper-
ate need. His cry must be, 'rLord, save
or I PERISH The Christian at Jesus
feet, discouraged and disheartened
with his own effort to do and to over
come, finds he can do all things
through Christ who strengthened
| him. Rev. F. B. Meyer, pastor of
Christ church, London, says: do not
sit down before that mistaken marri-
age, that uncongenial business, that
| physical weakness, as though thy life
must be failure; but take in large re-
Inducements of that Divine grace
which is given to the weak and to tn ose
Paul had reached such condition that
it was matter of deep congratulation
for him to be deficient in much that
men hold dear, and to have what most
men dread. He reioiced in all
that diminished creature-might and
strength ened his hold on God"
Joy in nfirmities.-When Paul real
lied that Gods strength was made
| perfect in his weakness a new source
| of JOY was opened up to him. All,
| how that thorn in the flesh became dig
nifed and glorifed that day, when this
| blessed truth burst upon his spiritual
vision. Paul energies from the gloom
of his physical infrmity into the glor-
ious light of the presence of his Lord
The thorn is no longer there as a
thorn, but has become the evidence Of
the presence of the grace and power
of God. This is your privilege, too,
and mine. The thorn in the flesh, the
daily trial and disappointment. the
misfortune and privation may all be
transformed into blessings.
On the busy streets of the down.
town district of Chicago, where strong
men rush to and fro in the vigor of
their manhood manipulating large en-
terprises and managing great estab-
lishments, there slowly moves an al
most helpless cripple with his wares
hung around his neck, from the sale of
which he gains his livelihood. His
limbs are twisted and helpless. his mis-
shaped frame trembles with distress
ing palsy, his face is set and marked
with lines of care and suffering, his
eyes are fixed on the walk before him
in order that he may be sure of his
ground as he drags his shutting feet
along, while the crutches under his
straining shoulders support him. What
a picture of weakness and helpless
ness in the midst of throbbing, pulsat-
ing human strength and life. Surely
the cripple is the picture of distress.