The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1917-07-12

u a n
!: !: 7 +: !: &: ): j /. : :
struments quickly
get out Of tune.
The action of the
atmosphere and
constant yibra.
/~ ton in playing, re-
lax the tension of
~ the strings so that
they need to be
tuned very often. No matter how good
the violin is, II needs to be tuned every
day, and often many times n day.
Man Is like violin. He soon gets
out OF tune with God. The wear and
tear OF life, and the demornlzing at.
mosphere which sin creates, so affects
his disposition that he needs to be
brought into harmony with God every
morning. II Is not surprising, when we
consider the subtlety of sin, md the
weakness Of the flesh, rather II Is
Strange that harp OF thousand strings
Should keep In tune so long.
Nothing will bring the believer into
touch with God so soon as little taste
Of the divine Word. For devotional
purposes the psalms are perhaps the
best reading, because they cover so
wide a range Of experience. Here we
find aspiration and confession, Joy and
sorrow, alteration and pralse Here
we behold the calm confidence which
grows out Of sublime faith: "The
Lord Is my shepherd; shall not want"
Again we meet the bitter anguish
which comes from ingrntitude, or I'M
reQuited 10, %, or the ecstasy of sin
forgiven, or he passionate plea for
mercy MS in w. fifty-first psalm, or
the shout Of tri, ph In the thirty-sec-
Ond psalm. 1t is loubtful II there is
any experience In 'ite for which we
cannot flnd a duplica,s in the psalter,
and noting how the man after Gods
own heart behaved in similar emergen-
cies, we are unconsciously led into the
same feeling.
Morning and Eventide.
In the morning read the nineteenth
psalm and at eventide the eighth
psalm. If you are going on journey,
Psalm 21 is appropriate. If in per.
plexity, read Psalm 81. If you are
grateful, choose Psalm 105, or Psalm
106, or Psalm 107. If your heart needs
searching, read Psalm 139, which be-
gins with the words, 20 Lord, thou
hast searched me, and known me-" and
after sublime description of Gods
omniscience, closes with the prayer
that only an honest heart can utter:
search me, o God, and know my
heart: try me and know my thoughts: :
and see II there be any wicked way in
me, and lead me In the way everlast-
ing" II II Is comfort you need, you
will find It In abundance in Psalms "a,
91 and 1903.
The Gospels are also excellent for
devotional reading because there we
come In contact with the words and
works of Jesus. We see how he lived
In the home and by the wayside, in the
carpenters shop, and by the open
grave. We see him In public life and
In private ministry always the same,
never hurried. never worried, always
thinking of others and never of him
self. We see him playing with the
children, watching the birds on the
trees, the growing grain and the fad
ing flowers. In everything he saw
Gods love and care, and from all
things natural he drew some spiritual
lessons. The epistles are especially
helpful to the mature Christian as re-
vealing the relation of the believer to
his fellow man; to the church. the
state, and the perishing world.
How Long.
If II be asked how much one should
read at time for devotional purposes,
let me answer with an Illustration. |
once saw picture of the disciples on
the way to Emmaus. The Master has
just left them and the two men are
looking at each other in glad astOnlsh-
ment. One of them Is holding both
hands over his heart as he says with
rapture, 'Did not our hearts burn
within us, while he talked with us by
the way, and while he opened TO us
the Scrlptures?' He can almost feel
his heart burn still as he recalls the
memory of that blessed walk.
If you ask how long one shall read
his Bible for devotional purposes, l
answer, "Read until your heart burns
and your soul thrills with the con-
sciousness Of Gods approval" You
may read n chapter or book or a
single verse, no matter how much or
how little. but read, If you can, until
you are consciously in touch with God,
and then, with the Fathers morning
kiss upon your lips, you are ready to
meet the outside world.
Some people feel that they cannot
spare time for the morning watch, but
| question whether any child Of God