MUSINGS

START COLLECTING! Many younger readers will be collectors, maybe of books, flowers, shells, or rocks. Most of us have collected postage stamps at some time in our lives. Some keep a record of the different kinds of birds they have observed. Now Solomon, to whom God gave outstanding wisdom, has some advice for us on collecting. He says, “The words of the wise are as goads, and the collections of them (the footnote says it may read, ‘those who collect them’) as nails fastened in: they are given from one shepherd”, Ecclesiastes 12: 11.

One of the best things any of us can do is to start a collection of “the words of the wise”.

These words come to us as we read the Scriptures and ministry, and in our meetings, and they are very precious because they are given to us by our great Shepherd. So let us treasure the impressions He gives us and go over them in prayer and exercise, so that they are “fastened in”, like nails, and become part of us. It is often helpful, I find, to write down impressions—

that helps to get them fastened in.

Why are the words spoken of as ‘goads’? A goad was a pointed pole used to poke oxen to keep them on the move or make them move faster. So the words we receive will often prick the conscience, especially if we are getting a bit slack. How thankful we should be for the faithful love of Christ who sends his word so that we are kept moving on in the path of His will, which is the way of happiness and blessing.

FCM

Published by F. C. Mutton, 22 Christchurch Road, Ilford, Essex, IG1 4QY, England Printed by C. Ellis, Billericay, Essex, England