LINCOLN QUIPS:
Once when the French ambassador was visiting the White House, he and President Lincoln prepared to go outside to lunch. Before leaving, President Lincoln ran a brush over his shoes. The French ambassador observed arrogantly, "I see, Mr. President, that you shine your own shoes!" to which Lincoln responded., "Yes, I do. Whose shoes do you shine?"
OUR DAILY BREAD
The Different Relations of Men to the Law.
The unconverted are always under the dominion of the Law, let them do what they will. Yet we behold this difference among the unconverted, that some live in manifest vices, while others lead a moral and virtuous life. What are we to make of this dif ference? It comes about in this way: Sin has corrupted man’s whole nature, and when he hears the Law, which forbids sin, the evil lust within man becomes alive and wants to break out in deeds. Man can now do two things: he can either set aside the Law and surrender himself to the will of sin, or he can argue: “I must do good works to escape punishment.” In the latter ease the Law seems to bring forth good fruit in one who is still un converted; and in a worldly sense that which he does is indeed good. Virtue is praiseworthy and has its reward in this life. But when a man avoids evil works for fear of punishment and does good works because he hopes to be rewarded therefor, those are motives which the Law itself condemns. It says to such persons, “Woe unto you!”
But when a man is converted to Christ, his relation to the Law is essentially changed. In conversion man is made a new creature; his heart, mind, and sentiments are wholly changed, so that he looks upon the Law in an altogether different light. In conversion the soul is divorced from this terrible husband, the Law, and is married to another, to Jesus. In Him the soul finds a totally different kind of husband. He takes His bride to His bosom and fondly addresses her thus: “Be not afraid, only believe! Believe in Me, confidently trust in Me. Thou needest labor no more. Behold, I have labored for thee and earned for thee all that thou needest.”
Prayer.
O Lord Jesus, Thou exalted and beloved Son of God, I thank Thee with all my heart that Thou didst not only become a true man in my behalf, but didst also place Thyself under the Law for my sake and didst labor unto death, in order that I might be redeemed from the curse of the Law and that my soul might be cleansed from its base impurities. Lor this I acknowledge my self in duty bound to present myself to Thee as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. To this end, O dearly beloved Savior, lend me Thine aid for the sake of Thy suffering and death with which Thou hast redeemed me. Amen.
Delay not, delay not,
O sinner, draw near,
The waters of life are now flowing for thee;
No price is demanded; the Savior is here;
Redemption is purchased, salvation is free.
THE FAMILY ALTAR
May 2.
"Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world; and this is
the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." 1 John 5:4
To be born of God means to be born for battle, but also for
victory and triumph. Who is born of God? John tells us in the
first verse of this chapter: "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is
the Christ," that is, the God-ordained Savior of the world and
therefore his Savior, such a one is "born of God." It matters not
if such a believer's faith is as small as a grain of mustard-seed,
or as weak as a bruised reed, or a smoking flax; so long as it
is true faith in Christ, it is battling and victorious faith, faith
that overcometh the world. For it brings with it God's Holy
Spirit, who not only kindles such faith in us, but also keeps us
in it and strengthens it. In faith we who mourn and grieve over
our sins find pardon for them in Christ, our Eedeemer. In faith
we break with the world and flee its sinful lusts and pleasures.
In faith we resist the temptations of the Wicked One. In faith
we daily and earnestly pray for grace and power to lead a godly
life. In faith we bear our cross, crucify our evil flesh, and, though
overcome in a weak hour and fallen into sin, arise again, even as
did David and Peter, by Christ's saving mercy, and return to the
good fight of faith with greater earnestness. Though often the
fight seemingly waxes too hot, endures too long, and we fear that
we must finally succumb in the battle, — courage ! for we are
not fighting alone. Christ, the great Captain of our salvation,
is fighting for us and with us; and so we can be sure of gaining
the victory. "In the world ye shall have tribulation," says our
blessed Savior ; "but be of good cheer ; I have overcome the world."
Though we be assailed on all sides, we shall be more than con-
querors through Him that loved us. (Eom. 8, 37.) Let us but
cling in faith to Him and daily pray with His apostles: "Lord,
increase our faith!" For as Luther truly says: "This Scripture
passage is a true touchstone of faith. Where there is true faith,
there such fruit, victory, and triumph must follow."
LINCOLN QUIPS: Once when the French ambassador was visiting the White House, he and President Lincoln prepared to go outside to lunch. Bef...
