The citizen., 1915-10-14

As we express II
sometimes In singing one Of our
hymns:
Prisons would palaces prove
II Jesus would dwell with me there.
Paul was enabled to write the epistle
to the Philippians with its keyword.
Rejoice" from the Roman prison.
John Bunyan In his den" at Bedford
saw Immanuel's land and the Delect-
able mountains. Madam Guyon said
the Lord had shut her up In prison
like q bird. with nothing to do but
sing.
Again. the Lord gave Joseph favor
In the sight Of the keeper OF the prison
tGen 39:2D. The hearts OF kings are
In the hand OF God and his afflicted
people may be certain that God is
not at n loss when he wishes TO re-
lieve them. Stories more fascinating
than fiction could be written from the
lives OF Christians who have been
given favor In the sight of the great
ones OF earth.
The Lord kept Joseph unselfish.
Most OF us would have felt justified In
nursing our troubles. but this man had
"a heart at leisure from itself. TO
soothe and sympathize." One morning
Joseph noticed that his fellow pris-
oners. the butler and baker. looked
sad. He Immediately inquired the
cause and proceeded TO help them to
the best OF his ability. After all the
best way TO bear ones burdens Is to
help bear the burdens o! others. More.
over. although Joseph little realized
II. his interest In these prisoners
marked a crisis In his life: as a result
OF II he finally came to the throne of
Egypt. but he was ready for the crisis
only because he was daily caring for
the interests of others. How little
we know OF the crises which every day
will bring forth. and how we need to
walk habitually so as to please God
II we are to meet these crises ade-
quately!
II is evident that the Lord pre-
served the faith OF Joseph. We recall
his own dreams when in his fathers
him that he would come to a place
OF elevation over his father and breth'
ren; but here he was in the dungeon
and he would have seemed justified
had he lost faith in dreams Yet that
this was not the case is evident from
his Interpretation OF the dreams OF
the butler and baker. and his conf
dence that God would bring them to
pass. Psalm l05:l9 Or. W tells us
that until the time that his word
came to pass, the word OF the Lord
tried him."
The Lord kept Joseph unretaliating.
When speaking with the chief butler
he said. II have done nothing that
they should put me into the dungeon"
(Gen. 40:l5l. Not a word does he
utter concerning that wicked woman.
Potiphar's wife. who had designed
his ruin. How slow even Christians
are TO learn that they need do no
unkind thing In order TO fulfll the
plans of God! "He shall bring forth
thy righteousness as the light and
thy judgment as the MONDAY"
Hoping In God.
Altogether. God was training Joseph
TO hope in himself alone and TO obey
him in any event. Doubtless his hopes
OF deliverance were high when the
chief butler left the prison. yet two
long years passed before deliverance
came. BY the grace of God Joseph
was kept from growing rebellious. but
persisted in the way OF duty. When
God finds a man who will plod on,
delighting to do his will under all
circumstances. he will quickly set him
in a large place and put a scepter In
his hand. Joseph was in training for
a throne and so are all true followers
OF Christ.
What a misfortune II the chief but
ler had remembered Joseph according
to his promise! Joseph might have
been delivered from the prison and
sent away a free man out Of the land.
but scarcely more than this. How his
story encourages US TO trust and not
be afraid!
Tho Christians Easy Chair.
An aged Christian woman living In
deep poverty was asked how she bore
her troubles. She said when they be-
came especially heavy she sat in her
easy chair and rocked them away.
The visitor looked about for this won
derful chair. but saw no trace OF II.
until finally the happy saint explained
that II was Romans s:2s. "All things
work together for good to them that
love God"