THE FAMILY ALTAR
October 7.
"And He said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert
place, and rest a while; for there were many coming and going,
and they had no leisure so much as to eat." Mark 6, 31.
The apostles had returned from their first missionary tour on
which Jesus had sent them, and now told all they had done and
what they had taught. Our compassionate Savior, however, does
not send them out again at once, but invites them to rest a while
from their labors in some secluded desert place. In the hustle and
bustle of the overcurious multitude about them they could not
even find leisure to "eat. "Rest a while !" So our dear Lord says
also to His disciples nowadays. If we and all His children would
only pay more attention to His gracious invitation and learn to
separate ourselves from our multitudinous business or household
cares and rest a while daily in His comforting and strengthening
presence — what better Christians we all should be ! But we here
in America are all more or less possessed by the prevailing speed
mania. Too many among us cannot work fast enough, earn money
fast enough, live fast enough, and finally die fast enough. They,
indeed, are to be accounted happy whom the Lord takes apart into
the desert of the sickroom or other solitude, and tells them : "Xow
rest a while, and ponder the things eternal." Let us take time
every day to go with Jesus into seclusion and by prayer and medita-
tion in His saving Word to rest a while with Him. Every hour
we spend needlessly in the company of worldly-minded men is lost,
lost to us forever. Every minute we spend with our Lord is so
much gain for a blessed eternity.
Alone with Thee! alone with Thee!
0 Friend divine!
Thou Friend of friends, to me most dear;
Though all unseen, I feel Thee near;
And, with the love that knows no fear,
1 call Thee mine.
Alone with Thee! alone with Thee!
I want no more
To make my earthly bliss complete,
Than oft my Lord unseen to meet;
For sight I wait till tread my feet
Yon glistering shore.
Alone with Thee! alone with Thee!
There not alone,
But with all saints, the mighty throng,
My soul unfettered, pure, and strong
Her high communions shall prolong
Before Thy throne.
