Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-24
THE CHURCHES AND
TO-DAY'S SERVICES

trouble comes II Is not the vengeance
OF God. but rather IL is Gods hand
reaching out to touch me or shake me,
saying: wake up. my child. and sec
the danger you are in" When the Bible
speaks OF God being angry" we must
not interpret the words according to
our modern fashion. II means that God,
under the necessity Of quick action
does what would seem TO be the re-
suit OF anger when really II is the re-
suit OF love. An action may seem to
the ignorant to come from quite an
other source from that to which an
Intelligent man would trace It. And
one OF the efforts of Il keen Christian
spirit which reads and nieditatcs Is to
trace back whatever experience OF iov
or sorrow may come 10 its real source
in order that the lesson may he learned
Oh. the joy of knowing that we are
thus under tho Fathers care. Who loves
US greatly, and who, when He shakes us
does 20 out OF His loving desire to
rouse us to rightfuI action.
DECLARATIONS OF COPS MERCY
IS FOUND EVERYWHERE;
There is yet ono more Lesson which
we would note. Everywhere through
this portion OF Scripture appointed for
our lesson. as we'll az through :he
whole BIBLE. we find declarations OF
Gods mercy and love. That word "nev-
ertheless' verse 1G) Is great word
In the Bible, opening. as II were. Il
door through which we see the loving
face Of our Father and hear Him give
the promise of nnal deliverance Al
WAYS there ia finger pointing to-
wards Calvary: always the promise OF
the Messiah speaks. and like n golden
thread through the midst Of many CON
fusing and pcrplex ing things of life
runs the stream Of Gods dear prom
ises leading to final victory. This is
one Of the characteristics of the Old
Testament when II is rightly studied.
God never seems 10 have absolutely
closed the door, but always left II
ajar rs IL were. In order that tn.
PROMISE of the future might be de-
clared. The food came. but there was
the ark: the serpents bit. but there
was the brazen serpent; the pestilcnce
srnotc the people. but there was the
altar sacrifce. May II not be. my dear
frisnd. that when trouble comes upon
you and seems about TO crush you, il
YOU look you can some shining
light which proves that Gods arms are
around you and that lie has prepared
for you many good things II only YOU
will be patient until they come? May
II not be that even In the darkest hour
there Is - sound like that OF the still.
small voice" Whispering OF the love of
God and the never failing mercy Of
Christ? Always the great story OF the
gospel enters into life. no matter how
rough inc way may De. Always there
is nevertheless even In the widest
experience and in the hardest OF trials
80. dear Lord. let Thy patience work
with me. Thou knowest how foolish I
am and how often forget Thee and
wander away. But let me know. I'm
whatever way Thou seest best that
Thou doe6t still love me and that Thou
Will lead mo to tho end II but respond
I: Thy call. thank Thee for what
has been; praise Thee for what is to
be. Hold me by Thy powerful hand
that l may not fall away. and lead
, me-. Christ, by Thy gracious pres
ence. that ] may work ever for Thee
and serve Thee with all my heart. For
Jesus's sake. Amen"