Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-07-05


supposes a spirit of meekness- II
meekness be absent we viii pray In
vain. for 1t is unto the meek he shows
his way. Moses was called the meek
est man, hence 1t Is said, "He made
known his ways unto Moses" If we
would know his way we will in meek
ness pray, Teach me thy way, o 5
Lord" ~ ets5s-- ~ 2
Our proneness to wander is another
reason for using this prayer daily We
are naturally inclined to choose our
own way because it seems right, for
getting there is way which seemeth
right unto a man, but the end thereof
Is the way Of death" There may not
be much difference between our way
and his at first, but however slight at
the beginning the end will be the diff
ference between life and death. Iiks
clock losing a second or two each
day, so the error of our own way may
be hardly noticeable at the start 70
must daily be corrected. The daily
prayer for instruction viii guard the
believer from his ignorance and rrone-
ness to wander.
IL The Need of Personal instructions
1t Is said God makes no two things
exactly alike. So each Christian ha8
his or her own peculiarities. Each
one has peculiar problems and difficult
ties which confront no one else Many
things are common to all believers,
but each has some things which are
peculiar. 1t is this peculiarly of prob
lem or difficulty which causes the need
OF personal instruction. Only the Lord
knows all the circumstances and only
the Lord knows all the way. Others
may know much; they cannot know
all Hence the advice of others, how
ever well intended, and however wise
the giver, can never take the place OF
the advice the Lord gives. And the
instruction of others, however good
and godly the giEer, can never take
the place of the instruction of the
Lord The church of God is made up
of units and each unit has its own Pc
cuIiar part to perform. Without the
personal instruction OF the Lord some
! Christian may be found doing anoth-
er's work while his own lies neglected
As the body is one and yet has many
members and each member its own Of
fee. so is the Church Two questions
must be asked by each Christian
"Am In the Lords wayT and "Am I
/ In the Lords way for meT
Ill. The Need of Divine Personal In
struction.
This need arises because Of the
Christians threefold enemy ever lurk-
ing beside the path and ever ready
to lure astray. The world viii present
many alternatives for the Lords way
and bring them to the believers at
tention SO craftily that unless f0rtf-
hed by this daily prayer the feet VIII
unconsciously stray away from the
right path even where the desire not
to stray may be found. Only the Lord
can discern all the twists and turns OF
the world It is not merely the evfl
world but that religious seemingly
gO5ly world which holds the danger
for the Christian. 1t will be satisfied
If 1t can induce the believer to do good
IL the good is done in wrong way.
Because a thing is good it does not
necessarily follow that it is good for
each Christian to do. Only the Lord
knows what is good for each one, and
he must be looked to for the needed
instruction. The flesh also is ever on
the alert to lead astray. The Lord
alone can divide between the soul and
spirit or between what the Christian
Is by nature and grace. Hence the
Lord alone can be relied upon for In
struction. And lastly, the Devil as
sumes the appearance Of an angel %
light, and he can SO work on the CON
science as to make one think that one
should do evil. Paul says, 81 verify
thought ought to do certain things
but Later he confesses he was at that
time ga blasphemer and injurious -
I Tim. :13. The Lord alone can see
and guard against the Devils wiles
and devices, hence the Lord alone car
give proper instruction.
In view of our natural ignorance
and proneneSs to wander, in view 0i
our peculiar problems and difficulties
and I'm view of the world, the flesh and
the Devil, our safety lies in this daily
prayer, 'aTeach me thy way, o Lord.