The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1921-02-24

right in her service, but not in the
manner of it. She was numbered and
distracted by it. 1t made her impa-
tent and fault-finding, perhaps envi-
Gus. There was something better for
Martha than she had yet gotten hold
Of. Her thought was only upon the
physical and the material. For her,
service was the all-important thing.
Undue emphasis is today placed upon
service. To have things and to do
things are good aud needful, but they
are not the best. They cannot be elm
mated, but neither should they en-
slave.
Mary's desires were deeper. She
would not permit the material to
crowd out the spiritual. Her choice
was the unseen. For her the words
of Christ were the most precious
things she could possess. To get them
brought her to Jesus feet, made Him
her companion. After He was gone
those words would still be. hers for
comfort and strengthening in the hour
of need.
Jesus knew values better than any
man who had ever lived. He could
weigh worlds and words and the souls
of men. He said to Martha, reprov-
ingly and lovingly, MARY hath chosen
the good part, which shall not be TAX
en- away from her." Mary chose the
things that will last: "Heaven and
earth shall pass away, but my words
shall never pass away"
Knowing the Father.
No knowledge Is so important as
knowing God; not knowing about
God but having personal acquaintance
with Him. God is revealed In nature
and in history. True science teaches
us marvellous things about God, but
there is only one way to know God
personally, and that is through Jesus
Christ. He alone fully knows the Fa-
Their and He alone is able to reveal
the Father to us duke 1O:22).
There is no use to bubble about this
fact. The sooner you accept and act
upon it the sooner will you come into
possession of a knowledge that will
enthrall you and free you from the
desire to know many other things that
only curse and degrade.
This is what the lawyer sought,
though insincerely ". 25). Is it not
really what we all desire? Eternal
life is only Christ's to give: II give
unto my sheep eternal life." He is
the Life. The seventy returned with
Joy. Through the delegated power OF
Jesus they had wrought the very same
miracles that He had. Jestis prom
ised them the exercise of almost un-
limited authority ". 18). Well might
the disciples rejoice that even de-
mons were subject to them, but Christ
pointed to some thing greater: 'Dut
rejoice that your names are writ I
in heaven ". 2O). Eternal life! The
good and enduring possession. Do you
have it?
The Joy of Possessing the Best.
Not the best in comparison with the
possessions of your neighbor but the
best in themselves. Only intrinsic
values count with those who are in
mortal; deeds that produce lasting
Joy because wrought in the power of
God; rejoicing that abides because
| they abide who know God and His
Son, Jesus Christ; peace in the midst
of things that are distracting because
the words Of Jesus Christ are hid in
our hearts These are the best things
to possess. They produce the Joy that
abides. They are spiritual and un'
seen, but most real. Other things pass
away, but these abide.
| When revelation of the best posses
sions is made to us, it still remains
for us to deliberately make choice OF
| them Martha could have made the
same choice that Mary did, but other
things more strongly appealed to her
| Our lives may be so full of pleasant
things" that we may not desire the
best. But if they do appeal to us
| even then they must be earnestly
chosen. Better accept Gods valua
ton of things than your own. Choose
what He approves instead OF what
you may prefer. They make no mis-
/ +oIyac who dnoidn ,Uith God