Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-02
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REV. SAMUEL w. GRAFFLIN.


Goods Purposes Inspired by Love-"
Hosea. 2:1e-2s: John. s:ls.
The thought for the month IL Religion
ana Gods Love- and that for this sun
day is Gods Purposes Inspired by
Love-" Creation may be the product Of
Gods wisdom and power, but salvation
Is the fruit of His love. When we come
to read the Old Testament we find that
practically every thought in 1t may be
found in the first Psalm, where blessing
Is assured to the good and punishment
to the ungodly; but the New Testament
has its heart in the fifteenth of ST. Luke
Here we find the value, in Gods sight
OF the lost things; lost through ignorance
lost through carelessness. lost through
self-w1ll-God, in love with that which
has gone astray.
Two wonderful Scriptures are given US
scriptures that open the very mind and
heart of God. The first, In Hosea, re-
veais God as He strives TO break down
surrounded Him. He paints himself as
the lover husband Of His chosen people
ana promises them that they shall not
call Him Master like slave wife
out Husband" like a betrothed wife
The second Scripture is that immeasur-
able sentence John, 3:1G in which the
very Son Of God seems at a loss to find
the adequate adjective with which to de-
scribe His Fathers love to men.
How often do men SANDER God read
ing into the Scriptures things that are
not to be truly found there. Just re-
Gently we heard a poor, misguided man
put In the mouth of his Maker the
threat which the author of Proverbs put
Will laugh at your calamity; will mock
When your fear cometh." God Is love.
could love do such thing? Back of
the anthem Of the ages, back Of the
sources OF history, back Of the very Gre
ation itself. is great kind God, who
gave us first a perfect world and then,
when we had married His plans tenderlv
placed within our "erring hands, tools
Tor toll. that the spoiled plans might be
worked out again, through the medium
OF honest hard work, in the fear Of God
Two thoughts come to us from the
Scripture and topic
l. Gods Loving Purpose the
poet CoWper, penned for the world his
oeatniess hymn. beginning:
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform"
ne crystallized for men the thought that
mas always existed In the heart Of those
who have simple. childlike faith in the
goodness and mercy of their Heavenly
Father. With simple majesty the lyric
DTeatnes deep sure confidence in God
and In His wisdom, love and power. 1t
is fa1th which feels and says:
"X r., fearful saints. fresh courage take;
The clouds We 30 much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind q browning providence
He hides smiling face.
Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan His works in vain:
God = His own interpreter.
And He will make 1t plain
IL The Proof of His Love-The proof
or Gods love to men Is Jesus Christ. He
is the answer to every question that
critic may ask or infidelity PROFOUND.
soothed: His word still Gains the trou-
bled sea Of life; Of all Of earths heroes He
Is still the first. God for strength;
man for sympathy. When men Of this
or any age shall ask that we bring proof
of Gods good will toward men," we
offer as an answer, Jesus Christ
There came one winter to southern
village rich man from the north to rent
the old plantation just beyond the out
skirts Of the town. He brought with him
among his retinue little governess,
whose duties in addition, to the care of
the children. embraced the purchasing of
much Of their clothing at a nearby city
Upon her return from these expeditions
she would be met. In good weather, by
the rich mans car but on rainy evenings
was forced to walk. as they did not care
to send the machine over the muddy
roads
After the first or second walk she
found that the minister from the little
church at which she had been worship
ing was always at the station, and Of
course his offer to convey her safely
home was accepted She came in time to
love this kindly man, but not a word
said he, until there came the sudden an
nouncement that the rich mans family
would leave at once. Then came his in
slant avowal, and when she asked: How
swer was: HAS there ever been a stormy
night, when you needed me. that I was
not there to see you safely through?''
So God. from His word and by His
Spirit, asks us a like question. And we
most surely must assent: for truly God
has been to us a friend In the storm and
the night. and Jesus has been the lover Of
our souls