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A FEW THOUGHTS

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 25, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 46.

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A FEW THOUGHTS.

By Mrs. A. J. R.

BY MRS. A. J. R.
WE read in the sacred word of God that Christ went about among the people doing good, healing their diseased bodies and likewise leading them to the only source of true happiness. He was not only a true missionary, but the greatest teacher the world has ever known. His heart burned with love toward fallen humanity. Man, made in the image of God, had fallen; he had not only lost his own life and happiness but his home in the Garden of Eden. Sin and sorrow were brought into the once sinless world; but, oh, what wondrous love! Jesus left his own beautiful home, came to this sin-cursed world, lived the life of a true Christian man, suffered, and finally died the most shameful of deaths, that we might live. Then, if we are missionaries, we must have the mind of Christ and be willing to suffer for the sake of the fallen race around us—not that we are so far above our fellow beings that we can reach down and raise them to our level, not that, for we belong to the same family, and had our environment been like that of our fallen brother or sister we, like them, might have fallen. Oh, no! we cannot boast of any goodness of our own but we can glory in a risen Saviour, one "who was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin." He overcame and so may we.
It is wonderful the simple faith which is exercised by the natives who come to the Saviour. They know they are sinful, but Jesus said he would save them and they trust him. One native woman of my acquaintance had quite a distance to travel along a lonely road one dark night, passing a graveyard on the way. Knowing, as I did, how superstitious all natives are and how much they fear ghosts, I said to her, "Grandma, are you not afraid?" but she answered quickly, "Oh, no! I have One who always travels with me and I do not fear." Such was her simple faith in Jesus.
How often we fret because our cherished plans are all upset, and we are not able to do anything as we would wish to do it. Would we do so if we "simply trusted day by day"?
Not long since I was on a little vessel bound for our island home; we had been away for about a month, and of course were anxious to return; then too the homeward bound mail would leave in a few days, so we were doubly anxious to reach land, and felt like pushing the vessel forward with all our might. Just as we were in sight of the town, we were becalmed, the sails hung limp and lifeless, and we rolled from side to side at the mercy of the current. All our internal fretting was of no avail; for several days we were kept away from our desired haven; the mail vessel left, but we were still outside; at last the breeze sprang up and we were in port once more. How many times in our life work are we becalmed—becalmed in our desire to work for others until it seems sometimes that we must break the spell, and accomplish our purposes at any cost! But "all things work together for good," so let us trust Jesus, our Teacher, for he doeth all things well. This beautiful hymn which follows may well be the prayer of each heart: "Father, I know that all my life Is portioned out for me, And the changes that are sure to come I do not fear to see; But I ask thee for a patient mind, Intent on pleasing thee;
"I ask thee for a thoughtful love, Through constant watching wise, To meet the glad with joyful smiles, And wipe the weeping eyes; And a heart of leisure from itself, To soothe and sympathize.
"I would not have the restless will That hurries to and fro, Seeking for some great thing to do, Or secret thing to know; I would be treated as a child, And guided where I go.
"Wherever in the world I am, In whatsoe'er estate, I have a fellowship with hearts To keep and cultivate, And a work of lowly love to do For the Lord on whom I wait.
"So I ask thee for the daily strength, To none that ask denied, And a mind to blend with outward life While keeping at thy side, Content to fill a little space, If thou be glorified.
"And if some things I do not ask, In my cup of blessing be, I would have my spirit filled the more With grateful love to thee. And careful—less to serve thee much Than to please thee perfectly.
"There are briars besetting every path, That call for patient care; There is a cross in every lot, And an earnest need for prayer; But the lowly heart that leans on thee Is happy anywhere.
"In a service which thy will appoints, There are no bonds for me; For my inmost heart is taught 'the truth' That makes thy children 'free,' And a life of self-renouncing love Is a life of liberty."