IMPRESSIONS

Remember the patriotic Americans of past years who devoted their hearts and hands to contribute to the American Dream.

 

 DAILY READINGS IN LIFE OF CHRIST - J.R. Miller (1890)

November 14. Lost Opportunities

"And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.!" Mark 14:41 

The time for watching is past. Jesus had now passed through His agony, and on His face was the radiance of peace. He no longer needed the help of the sympathy which in vain He had craved in the darkness. He looked toward the city gate, and there was the traitor coming. There was neither need nor use now, for the disciples' waking and watching, and they might as well sleep on. 

The lesson is plain. Whatever we do for our friends — we must do when they are in need of our help. If one is sick, the time to show our sympathy is while the sickness continues. If we allow him to pass through his illness without showing him any attention — there is little use when he is swell again, for us to offer kindness.

If one of our friends is passing through some sore struggle with temptation — then is the time for us to come up close alongside of him and put the strength of our love under his weakness. If we fail him then — we may almost as well let him go on alone after that. Of what use is our help — when the battle has been fought through to the end and won without us? Or suppose the friend was not victorious; that he failed — failed because no one came to help him — is there any use in our hurrying up to him then to offer assistance? Thus on all sides, the lesson presses.

 THE FAMILY ALTAR

November 13.

"Even to your old age I am He; and even to hoar hairs will

I carry you; I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and

will deliver you." Isaiah. 46:4.

Old age has its own infirmities and dangers, even as childhood

and youth. But it also has the most comforting promises of God,

if it be a pious old age. "Those that be planted in the house of

the Lord," says Psalm 92, "shall flourish in the courts of our God.

They shall still bring forth fruit in old age ; they shall be fat and

flourishing; to show that the Lord is upright." Here in the text

from Isaiah God gives pious old age the reassuring promise that

He Himself will carry His aging children in His sheltering arms

to the end. Trusting in these divine promises, old age in the

Christian resembles the golden fall of the year, when mellow sun-

shine glorifies the woods and fields, and there breathes a spirit of

peace, of dreamy stillness all about one. Oh, what a blessing pious

old fathers and mothers prove to their family circle, to all their

acquaintances! They have experienced the patience, and mercy,

and faithfulness of our God from their youth through all their long

and eventful years, and can advise, and counsel, and comfort their

children and friends in all their troubles and sorrows, pointing them

always to our God, from whom cometh our help, and praying for

their loved ones and for their Savior's kingdom as long as their

dear old lips can move. Blessed the home that has such an old,

praying father or mother to shelter and to cherish. How children

and grandchildren will lovingly care for them and patiently bear

with their increasing infirmities, remembering the divine promises :

"Honor thy father and mother, that it may be well with thee, and

thou mayest live long on the earth" (Eph. 6), and: "

."

(1 Tim. 5,4.)