THE FAMILY ALTAR

October 20.

"What think ye of Christ?" Matt. 22:42.

This solemn question of our Lord every man is compelled to

answer. There is no escape from it. No man can say: "Christ

is nothing to me. I do not care to answer that question." God

Himself demands the answer; and as men answer it, so they decide

their own fate for time and eternity. The Pharisees, to whom Christ

first put the question, failed in their answer; yet they could have

known the true reply, for they were versed in the Scriptures of the

Old Testament, which plainly teach the deity of our Lord. But

instead of following the clear Word of God, they followed their

own blind reason, just as do our scribes and Pharisees of the present

time, who admit that Christ was a wise teacher, a great miracle-

worker, the most perfect model of love and virtue the world has

ever seen, and therefore in a certain sense "divine" ; but they refuse

to believe that He is true God, begotten of the Father from eternity.

So they all come under the condemning sentence of Christ : "If ye

believe not that I am He, — namely, the promised Redeemer, —

ye shall die in your sins." (John 8, 24.) No one but Christ has

saved us from sin or can save us. There is salvation in none other.

But if Christ had merely been man and not God made manifest

in the flesh, then His suffering and dying for us would profit us

nothing; for no man can by any means redeem his brother nor

give to God a ransom for him, as Scripture declares. Hence our

Savior had to be true God. Because His atoning blood is the blood

of God's Son, therefore it cleanses us from all sin. — What do we

think of Christ? God in His mercy help us to say with a sincere

and upright heart that is filled with grateful, loving faith : "Christ

is my Lord and God. Though thousands be ashamed to own

Him to-day, I will confess Him as my God and my Redeemer."

Ashamed of Jesus! that dear Friend

On whom my hopes of heaven depend!

No; when I blush, be ,this my shame,

That I no more revere His name.

Ashamed of Jesus! yes, I may,

When I've no guilt to wash away,

No tear to wipe, no good to crave,

No fears to quell, no soul to save.

Till then — nor is my boasting vain —

Till then I boast a Savior slain!

And, O may this my glory be,

That Christ is not ashamed of me!