THE FAMILY ALTAR

November 9.

"Whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die,

we die unto the Lord; whether we live, therefore, or die, we are

the Lord's." Rom. l4:8.

We are the Lord's. 0 blessed, 0 glorious fact! Is it true?

Can we also say with Paul that we are the Lord's ? When can we

truthfully say so? The answer must be: When we live not for

self, not for this world, not in any conscious sin, but give ourselves

with our whole heart to Jesus, believing in Him, loving Him and

His blessed Gospel, serving Him where we can in His needy

brethren, and living in daily prayerful companionship with Him.

Then we live in and for the Lord, and He is with us in all we do,,

blessing, and comforting, and saving us to the end. Then shall

we also die in the Lord. No matter when, or where, or how death

comes to us, be it after a lingering illness or in the twinkling of

an eye, be it at home or abroad, while softly pillowed in bed or

out on the street, — it will be a blessed death, for it will be a death

in the Lord. We fall into His loving hands, from which even

death cannot pluck us, but must serve to fulfil also in us the sweet

promise : "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from hence-

forth; yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors;

and their works do follow them." (Rev. 14:13.) In that land

of pure delight, where Sabbaths have no end, nor tears, nor toil,

nor grievous sin will ever burden us again, oh, there we shall never

regret it that here we denied ourselves for Jesus' sake and took up

our cross and followed Him. Through endless days we shall rest

and sing of the great things redeeming love has done for us. "Look

up, ye saints of God! Nor fear to tread below The path your

Savior trod Of daily toil and woe. Wait but a little while In un-

complaining love. His own most gracious smile Shall welcome

you above."