Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1922-09-09

nave uctn Ills
own. but lie finds nothing to His
satisfaction and leaves it. Leaving
il. He leaves the holy city too for
Bethany, "thc house of humiliation,
where alone He can abide.
/. This scene recalls another, In
blessed contrast. and described in
John 2o:l9-23. The disciples are
gathered and the risen Lord. with
infinite blessing, is in their midst. II
is a picture OF what every gathering
Of the saints should be--a gathering
round the Lord. How blessed 10 be
there. But what II lie is not seen!
What If there Is something as often
there is, that keeps Him away. and
He cannot have the place He joys TO
take. as minister Of blessing 10 His
own-what then?
All. then He comes as lie came TO
the temple. in silent majesty.
And what does He see? He sees
perfect order and dccorum. lie sees
a comfortable and attractive building
with well-dres>ed and wcll-behaved
people. But He sees oratorcal
pyrotechnics. instead of the proclama-
ton of His Word, or hears its
authority and hnality denied. He
hears feeble song purporting to be
TO His praise. and sees the choir
entertaining the congregation with an
anthem. but hears not what they say.
Looking deeper, He sees hearts I'M
exercised by His Word nor filled with
love to Him. He sees men who think
more of business than of Him and
women whose pleasures are dearer
than He. He sees no souls bowed with
a sense Of sin coming to accept Him
as the only Savior and Lord And He
goes ont
oh, Jesus, stay. Look round again
and let those eyes search Us through.
Fix that gaze upon our Utmost heart
and let us see what IL beholdS. Plait
again the scourge and drive out the
things that offend Thee But tarry
with us. We shall be with Thee for
ever yonder: we must have Thee
now
Q. In Mark S:33 another of those
silent looks Is recorded. when he
had turned round about and looked
upon his disciples. he rebuked Peter"
When He must rebuke one, He will
look upon all. When He administers
the necessary Christening of the
Fathers house Ia one whom He loves.
His eye Is on the others. When, by
great sorrow or affection. He must
break the heart of one. He thinks Of
the rest. and the reason for II ap-
pears in Paul's words to Timothy:
"Them that sin rebuke before all. that
others also may fear" Yea, at such
a time. we see those eyes fastened
upon us in loving admonition.
3. In Luke 30 81 we are told of
another Of these. And the Lord
turned and looked upon Peter" Did
lie speak? Not word No word was
necessary. He looked and broke the
heart of his SHINING disciple and che
went out and wept bitterly" Those
bitter tears show what that look con
veyed to Peters soul. He has looked
in that way NJ you as He has nj me.
A look of loving rebuke and plying
compassion and melting grief. We
have seen II in the midst OF our de-
mails of Him among His enemies. in
the midst of our careless and unhOly
often has IL recalled US from these
and sent us out 10 weep! But blessed
be His name. If He search us ont
thus, II is only to restore the fellow
ship with Him which sin has broken.
:. Still another Of these silent
looks: And when Jesus had looked
round about on them with anger. be-
ing grleved for the hardness of their
hearts" Mark 3 30 When grief turns
to anger and love becomes wrath.
who can abide its coming? What so
terrible us THE wrath of the Lamb?"
How shall His people return those
looks? BY 'loOking unto Jesus" in
turn. 1--WE all. gazing on the glory
Of the Lord with unveiled face, are
changed into the same image"
stephen looked steadfastly toward
heaven. and said see Jesus" "And
all they that sat In the council. be-
held his face as II had been the face
OF an angel" oh. return the look and
Il shall make you like Him.
How shall the sinner return those
looks of the Savior7 He has told how
Look unto me and be We saved"
Look, NOT at yourself. but q Him,
dying, risen. pleading now with thee
Look with all the conscious need of
your. sinful hart Look. with the eye
OF fifth TINT saws. Gle died for me"