THE FAMILY ALTAR

August 2.

"There is none like unto Thee, 0 Lord; Thou art great, and

Thy name is great in might. Who would not fear Thee, O King

of nations?" Jer. 10:6-7.

Our God, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the

only true God, is great, great not only in His divine Being, but

great also in His divine name, that is, in every revelation He has

given to man He is surpassingly great. There is none like unto

Him! "Great in counsel and mighty in work; for Thine eyes

are open upon all the ways of the sons of men; to give every

one according to His ways, and according to the fruit of his doings."

(Jer. 32:19.) How great is our God when we consider His mighty

works of creation; how great when we meditate on His wisdom

and love revealed in the redemption of man ! How great when

we contemplate the work of His Holy Spirit in converting and

sanctifying the vilest of sinners and restoring him to blessed com-

munion with his God ! How great our God is also when we review

His righteous judgments on the nations or His wonderful prov-

idences with His Church or even in our own lives ! Verily, such

a great and mighty God we must fear, not as criminals fear the

executioner, but as loving and obedient children fear their wise

and loving father. For our God is a God of love; all His ways

with us are ways of peace and not of evil. But where men refuse

to give Him the honor and obedience they owe Him, His holy

wrath is kindled against them, and they perish in their disobe-

dience. "I am the Lord; that is My name; and My glory will

I not give to another." (Is. 42:8.) May we spend this new day

of our life in the holy fear of our God; for "blessed is every one

that feareth the Lord, that walketh in His ways. For thou shalt

eat the labor of thine hands; happy shalt thou be, and it shall

be well with thee." (Ps. 128:1-2.)

Guardian of Israel, hear me,

Watch o'er me through the day,

In all I do be near me:

For others, too, I pray;

To Thee I would commend them,

Our church, our school, our land,

Direct them and defend them,

When dangers are at hand.