Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-10-22
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USE OF THINGS IN HAND.

is that In thine hand? And he said,
A rod.-Exodus w.: 3
What is that in thine hand?" was
the question of the Lord to Moses in
the land of INDIAN The answer was
rod, which, when thrown on the
ground, performed wonders, through
the symbolism of miraculous quick
ening. What is that in thine hand?
is a question which God puts to every
man to-day, though he may not live
and move in a desert, but in crowd
ed mart. or in the quick-paced circles
of modern society There is no one
who has not at least as much as a
stick In his hand, and just rod may
do wonders when it is consecrated to
the divine service. The rod in Moses
hand stands for the faculty native
or cultivated, which one possesses. If
1t be a rough stick hewn from the
brush, it symbolizes native endow-
ments; If it be jeweled hand, or
sharp-pointed javelin, 1t may connote
the attritions of culture or the powers
of dynamic learning-but whatever it
may be it must be consecrated value,
a possession cast down in proffered
surrender to Jehovah.
Religion demands the proper use OF
the things in ones hand. No one can
use what is merely theoretic or dream
full or imaginary nor work with an
others powers. There Is no doing
duty by proxy; there is no hiring of
substitute to go to lions war. Each
man must be present for duty, each
must answer to the roll call, each man
must wear his own armor, fend with
his own shield, and strike with his
own sword Let every man then look
well to his armor and equipment, for
his comrades spear will not win him
laurels, nor his fellows shield perhaps
avail to protect him in the hour of
warfare
When Moses found himself circum-
3cribed in his activities in the land Of
INDIAN the Lord sent him in due time
a commission for wider service, but
Moses had first to be taught, by an
object lesson, that the power or effect
i've service was from God, not from
man, while yet 1t employs the powers
of men BY his own rod from the
brush Moses could not strike blow
at Pharaoh which would hurl him
from his throne, while yet he was to
learn that God might take the staff in
hfs hand to be as an Irresistible
sceptre of sovereignty. To-day God
werks for us while lie works through
us. The basis Of His working, SO to
speak, is in the human faculty, though
it is far more than that faculty While
magnifying the divine force due de-
gard should be paid to the human fac
tor. To every good man God supplies
certain powers on trust, from which
He will demand return. God is ''aus-
tere" or strict, requiring an account
ing. What is that In thine hand?
What are you going to do with 1t?
Are you using 1t faithfully and Of
fectively, until you get better thing
to handle? These are pressing ques-
tions, for which sufficient answer
must be. returned to the Lord of all
spirits.
The use of the things In ones hand.
IL intelligently pursued, will In the end
lead to the acquisition of greater pow
ers Of action When God sees that a
man is making a good use of rough
rod He may give after a while a pol
ished staff, and later still perhaps a
sceptre. Muscles strengthen by exer-
else, and powers grow by use: prac-
tice makes perfect, as industry gives
expertness. To him that hath shall be
given, and he who is faithful in that
which Is least shall be honored by
grander opportunities which grow out
of the much and the many. God Is a
strict accountant, but not hard task
master, and. while He demands the
unsparing. unfailing use of the things
in the hand, will multiply in due time
the faculties which are actuated by
faith, and the blessings which are now
q hope.
THE EARTHLY, THE HEAVENLY.
Rev. Geo. Shipman Payson.
"As we have borne the image of the
earthly, we shall also bear the image
OF the heavenly Cor. 15:49
The glory of a sunset cloud is not