The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1939-07-20
"In God we trust"

God: for we rest on thee.-H Chronicles
14:11.
SIN God we trust"
These are the words which ap-
pear on many of our United States
coins. Do we believe them? The
lesson for today reveals how real
trust in God operates in the life of
a nation. The divine principles
which were in effect 900 BIC. are
just as valid in AID. 1900. A
prayerful consideration of them in
the Bible schools of our land today
and the application of them to our
national life may mean more for
our country's welfare than the DELHI
GRAFTON of statesmen or the opera
ton of governmental agencies.
The story of the reign of Asa Zone
of the few godly sovereigns of the
nation of JUDAH reveals that trust
in God calls for an upright life, for
intelligent preparation, prayer, and
faith. If we trust God we shall
/. Make the Life Right wv. 2-5).
Asa did that which was good and
right in the eyes of the Lord"
Only such a man or such a nation
can really trust God and count on
Him for guidance and blessing.
Asa destroyed the idols and places
of heather worship wv. 8, 81, but he
also turned his people to the true
God ". ~.
Many are praying that America
may have such revival, which will
result in the putting away of sin,
which is becoming such a blatant
commonplace in our land, and
turning to the true God in repentant
and righteous living.
II. Prepare With Care wv. 6-1O).
Asa trusted God but he also made
every possible preparation for that
which his nation might face. In
time of peace he fortified cities and
trained his army. This was intel
ligent faith.
We need not pray that God will
keep us warm, if we do not gather
and conserve the fuel which He
has provided. We must plant, har-
vest, and store the grain if we are
to eat when winter comes. A proper
preparation for the defense of our
country should precede our prayers
for Gods protection.
In and through all it is God that
works, but at the same time He ex-
poets US to do what we can as He
enables us to serve Him. The
work of the Church of Christ would
make great strides forward if His
followers would recognize that fact.
"We have no right to look for di-
vine cooperation until we have done
our best; we are not to sit with
folded hands and expect a complete
salvation to be wrought for us, and
then to continue as idle spectators
of Gods redemption of man.
kind. We are to tax our resources
to the utmost, gather our hundreds
of soldiers; we are to work out
our own salvation with fear and
trembling, for it is God which
worketh in US both to will and to do
of his good pleasure " wv. II.
Bennett).
III. Pray With Assurance ". 1D.
The Ethiopian host facing Asa's
army was so great that humanity
speaking his distinction was hope
less, but zone man with God at his
back is always a majority" Take
courage, Christian friends, trust
God. Only be certain that you are
on His side and that your life is
right, and then be assured that
He will give the victory.
The secret of Asa's victorious
prayer was that he put no trust in
himself, but did believe in God.
Says Alexander Maclaren: "My
consciousness of need is my open
ing the door for God to come in.
Just as you always find the lakes in
the holloWs, so you will always find
the grace of God coming into mems
hearts to strengthen them and make
them victorious when there has been
the preparation of the lowered es-
innate Of ones self. Hollow out
your heart by self-distrust, and God
will fill it with the flashing waters
of His strength bestowed"
~. Act in Faith ". 12).
Asa went out to meet the Ethio-
plans, but he knew that God went
before him, and therefore he saw
God snite them.
Right living, proper preparation,
and fhn Of foi4L i
inmate in an act of faith. If we
believe that God is for US, let us
act as though we believed it and
step out with confidence to do His
will, come what may. God honors
that kind of faith, whether it be on
the part of king, leading his ma
ton into battle, or on the part of
the humblest believer, seeking to
bear testimony for Him.