Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1907-04-19
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR.
Prayer Meeting Topic Fer the Week
Beginning Jan. q.
BY REV. S. II DOYLE.

ny REV. >. II III IL.
Topic Beginning with God and con-
tinuing with Him.-Gen t. L. John /. LA;
XIV, 49, (Consecration meeting)
In the first verse OF the first chapter
of the first book in the PILE Moses
declares that God was the hegimning
of all material things In the begin
ming, Cod A more majestic sentence
could not have been selected to open
the history Of Gods relation to the
universe and to man. 1t presents at
once the idea that God is back of all
things The story of the creation is
not first told and the relation of God
to 1t revealed, but the first in impor-
lance is put first In the record of the
fact. And this is the proper method
of beginning this record. The creator
Is in all respects superior to the crea-
ton, and this fact should be recogniz-
ed at once God is the beginning of
the material universe "In the begin
ming God created the heavens and the
EARTH" and therefore His superior po-
sition should at once be announced. II
Is a singular fact that when the apps.
tie John desires TO relate the history
OF Christ as the Son of God he
also opens his story with the same ex.
pression-"In the beginning" "In the
beginning was the Word Christ. and
the Word was with God, and the Word
was God. The same was In the be
ginning with God" John desires to
tell the story of Christ from the stand
point of His deity, and he also very
properly begins with His existence
with God In the beginning of eternity
Moses began the history of the creation
Of the material universe with God, and
John begins the story of mans spirit
ual redemption in the same manner
In so doing they followed the true his
torical method, for God Is the source
and support Of all things, both material
and spiritual.
But in beginning their histories with
God these writer's not only followed
the true historical method. but at the
same time suggested an Important
practical lesson for us. They began
with God. and so should we. God
should have the first and supreme
place in our hearts and lives. We
should begin the day with God. Every
day should be begun with the reading
Of Gods word and with prayer to God
No man who wants the blessing Of God
upon his days work should neglect TO
begin II with God. We may think that
we have no time for morning devo-
tons. but we should take time II can
be found In some way. Where there's
a will there's way" We may think
that we cannot afford to take the time,
but the real truth Is that we cannot af-
ford not to take the time. Time spent
with man, however important the bust
ness, will never repay IFS II It be time
that should be spent with God No
man can rob God and expect to profit
by the transaction. We should also
begin. life with God Nothing is more
secra ton Of the heart and life to God.
The commands Of Scripture In this re-
spect are very explicit-"SOn, daugh-
ter, give Me thine heart" Remember
thy Creator In the days Of thy youth, "
Seek We first the kingdom Of God"
No language could be more definite In
the great crises of life we should be-
gin with God. This was the method
Of Christ Himself No great duty
faced Him without His going to God
with It, We should follow the exam
pie Of Christ In this respect. In q
word. let US begin with God In every
thing. II so, we need have no fear of
the results.
Beginning with God, however, is not
all the story. We must continue with
God. A good start does not always
insure final success. II only does 30
when the contestant continues good
work. The Galatians began well, but
soon grew weary, and the apostle Paul
needed to exhort them to renewed zeal
and fervor. We must take God with
us on all occasions, and where we can
not take Him we ourselves should not
go. But 1t is most encouraging just
here that the taking of God is abso-
lutely possible for the reason that God
Is willing to abide with us. What
great condescension on His part. In
His Son Jesus Christ He is willing to
come into our hearts and abide with
us, and except He abide with NE we
cannot lead Christian lives and bring
forth fruit to His honor and glory.
May He therefore abide with us and
we with Him, that our lives may be
fruitful In His service and that we
may have the promise fulfilled in us,
| IF we abide In Ne and Ny words
abide in you, ye shall ask what you
will. and II shall be done unto you"
BIBLE REFERENCES.
Ps. xcii. /, 2; Prov. III, 8, 10; Bccl.
xii. 1; Matt. vi, 80; John xxi, 2O-2S;
Luke IL. e.; John viii, 81. AZ; Nv, 8;
Gal. III. 10; Col. l, 1923.
| what Christian Endeavor IL BUILDING
Christian Endeavor is building patri-
ots who will stand In the forefront