The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-07-11

M But notWithstand-
Ar& M % ing natures dead
ness Abraham staggered not. but be
lieved God and it was counted to him
for righteousness. Wonderful faith
Upon Abraham's word Of confession.
God sealed the covenant with a strange
ceremony while the patriarch slept.
What a mountain-top experience with
God in the life of faith. Yes. but peril
lay in wait in the valley. The voice Of
God in promise had scarcely died away,
when another voice-not of d be
witching world, but of the flesh, said:
1T is utterly impossible for me 10 ever
give birth TO a son. Make my maid
Hagar your wife that l may obtain
children by her." And Abram heari-
ened unto the voice Of Sarai.H Tie
hero, who had detied Satan, and had
been delivered out of the world, now
fell a prey to the snare of the flesh.
Instead of trusting God-he yielded to
the ~entreaties of his unbelieving wife
and denied his faith in God. There
are some valuable lessons here in the
life and walk of faith.
J.. The Snare of the Flesh Is Laid for
the Man of Faith When He Is Urged
to Work Out Gods Plan by His Own
Methods.-A snare is an artfully con
cealed device to entrap the IN
wary. Abram vas most unsuspect-
ing. 1t seemed so necessary. so
natural, so providentially arranged
fa- Is., 80 aaf ,trn Saraffn -
posal. Coming from one who loved
him so devotedly, was this not the rea-
sonable thing to do to secure what God
had promised? All. how subtle and at
tractive- was this snarei Ii is a most
common temptation. There is a IA.
miliar saying that appeals to us all
"God helps them that help them.
selves" But this is the surest hin
drance in the life of faith. A young
girl had found work in a factory, weaY-
ing cloth. She was instructed TO send
for the boss weaver If the threads in
her loom broke and tangled. She did
so, until a day came when she felt
she could correct the situation herself.
Her attempts only made matters
worse until in sheer desperation, she
summoned help. When he saw the
awful mess she had made. he said:
"Why did you try to do this?' She re
| piled: II did the best / could Yes
said he, but doing your best is to send
for me-" This is the real secret Of the
walk of faith-sending for Christ. He
will disentangle the threads in life's
loom and save US from spelling the
pattern. HE is the God that wOrketh
for them that wait fer Him." The les
son is, Let Him, for He is able TO per.
form that which He has promised
Commit thy way unto the Lord, trust
also in Him and He shall bring il to
pass"
II. The Man of God Is Ensnared by
the Flesh When He Grows impatient
Thinking Gods Delays Are Denials.-
Man is always in a hurry; God never.
"A thousand years to Him are but a
day" Faith is tempted to work by
mans calendar of days-God would
teach us to count time by millenniums.
The brief span of earth is important
only as related to eternity. We but
exist as born of the flesh we truly
live when born of the Spirit. Our
plans, our schemes, our way IF doing
things always require haste. But Gods
promises can never fail, and He will
work them out in the minutest detail.
Being confident of this very thing.
that He which hath begun a good work
in us will perform it unit the day Of
Jesus Christ" How heartening such
assurancel 1t is through faith and
patience we inherit the promises"
ave are His workmanship. created in
Christ Jesus unto good works which
God has aforetime prepared that we
should walk in them" God knows Just
what is in us all. He leads, He waits.
He tests, He delivers. that the gold
may be refined-that faith may grow
strong and do exploits. Absolute de
pendence upon God is the sure path for
our feet. No snare is ever laid there
In. 1t is a protected highway. pa
trolled by Gods angels and kept safe
for all who walk by faith, MOI by sight.
Unto Him who is able to do exceed
ing abundantly above all we ask or
think" we direct cur eyes for guidance
and help.