Evening journal., 1908-02-26
CHRISTIAN
ENDEAVOR NEWS
Topic for March I, 1903: "How God
Leads Men."-Ps. %.

Christ's coming this truth has gained new
power and reality for us.
Read Ps. 2S;3-It is pleasant to go
through green pastures and beside still
waters, but the ways that for a time seem
attractive are sometimes roads to ruin
The best truth is that Gods leading is
always in the paths Of righteousness.
Read Ps. 2S:4-There are times when
we cannot see where we are going, and
the very want OF knowledge rouses fears.
1t is then comfort to know that we may
be sure Of safe guidance. and to have our
trust made more precious by the unseen
dangers.
Read Ps. 23:6-The best human guides
wisdom fails us in time Of need, and we
never know when they may be taken
from us altogether. We want and we
have guidance that lasts all the days Of
our life here, and that is good for the
hereafter as well.
Topics For Short Talks.
How Christ is like a shepherd.
Eastern shepherd customs compared
with ours
What the shepherd Psalm means to me.
A Motto.
Be trustful, be steadfast, whatever be-
tide thee:
Only one thing do thou ask Of the Lord:
Grace to go forward wherever He guides
thee.
Simply believing the truth Of His word.
e. c. Gaskell
Thoughts on the Topic.
This Psalm that we have for our topic
this week is said to be the sweetest and
most peaceful in the whole Bible. And
anyone who does not know It should
make up their mind they are going to
know 1t. For IL you are disheartened, out
OF sorts, and everything is going wrong
with you just recite the 23rd Psalm over
to yourself and see how much better you
feel.
Can you truthfully say the Lord Is my
Shepherd. He wants you to be able to
say it. And If He is your shepherd, you
know you shall not want when you are
led and guided by a great shepherd whose
love for you never faileth. Perhaps you
have not followed Him when He tried to
lead, and maybe you have wandered over
stony places.
God has different ways OF leading men
and making them do what He wants.
Some men have a harder time of it than
others, He has a will for each man 10
do, a way for each man to follow He
has left men free to refuse or reject this
viii and way. If they reject and refuse
this will and way they are losing the best
God has for them.
And God not only has this will and way
for each man and wants each man to
find It, but He does all He can to get each
man to find It and follow it. God seeks to
lead men; He is ready with guidance and
will answer all who pray to Him asking
Him to guide and help them.
If we could only bring ourselves to this
point Of giving the reins Of life over to
God, to Jesus Christ, our sublime leader,
all the tangles and uncertainties of this
world would be greatly lessened. We rise
up in the morning and look forward to a
day of complications. friction, loneliness
and temptation. but we are sure OF some
one going before us all the day and bring
ing us safely through it. No situation can
arise in which He cannot help us and no
danger can confront us that He cannot
guide us through. He says: Il will guide
thee with mine eye" How can He guide
us unless we walk near enough to catch
the glance OF His eye.
God is our leader whether we ask Him
or not But only those who really want
a leader get one. The acceptance of lead
ership involves frequent sacrifices of ones
own preferences. You cannot both be
leader and at the same time be your own
guide. Any worthy leader expects his fol-
lowers to follow him in any way he d.
rects and thinks best in order to reach
the goal.
The twenty-third Psalm means nothing
to the boy or girl who is intent on having
his or her own way whether or no. Is a
Christian collegian trying TO decide on
his life's work? He will never get any
true leadership from God unless he begins
by yielding the rudder of his life to one
more able to steer it.
II you go to Him for guidance He will
guide you; but He will not comfort your
distrust or half trust Of Him by showing
you the chart of all His purposes con-
cerning you. He will only show you into a
way where, II you go cheerfully and
trustfully forward, He will show you on
still farther. The Lord will not lead thee
by the right hand while another leads thee
by the left. Through every step in life
the Lord offers to guide us If we but hear
His voice and follow Him,
God does not always lead men into the
valley Of the shadow. He would have
them follow Him up to the heights of
achievement Christianity is a forelook-
ing religion never once glancing back
Just now there is great activity going on
in trying to win this world for Christ.
At the missionary convention Of men re-
Gently held in Philadelphia plans were
prepared to carry on a more aggressive
campaign to winning souls for Christ
Forward should be the watchword Of
every Christian Endeavorer and every
society. Don't get into the valley, but
make your aim the mountain top. Did
you hear what Mr.. Shaw said at the rally
about the splendid work the Endeavor-
ers are doing in winning this whole world
for Christ. Be up and doing. Don't lag
behind and as God leads you, try and lead
other men to Him. That is the kind OF
work that pays. If you don't get your re-
ward in this world you viii be sure to re-
oeive it in the world TO come. brave
young general Of the sixteenth century
faced a superior enemy with his small
but valeant army. His knights begged
him not to give battle. but he sprang for
ward crying: sLet Him who loves me
follow me-" When Christ. our leader,
calls us into hard places, He too cries:
Let Him who loves Me follow Me-" And
the least we can do for His promise Of
leadership is to love and obey Him.