NEIGHBOURS

 

In the worldly way descending,

Knowing only darkness, strife

Legal pride its help withholding –

Thou didst find us, give us life.

 

Gentle, gracious, condescending,

Thou in perfect righteousness

Bound the wounds in love transcending

Yielding rest, abounding peace.

 

Joying in the Holy Spirit,

Thus we love, and love like Thee,

Grace and mercy manifesting

In our "Year of Jubilee".

 

May we, poor, enriching many,

Having nought, possessing all

Serve by love as we are waiting

For Thy blessed heavenward call.

 

 

 

C.J.Stewart

Peterborough

May 1976

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE CHILDREN'S WELCOME

The happiest sign of a welcome to a child is to be taken into loving arms. Some of the young ones whom Jesus received in this way when going towards Jerusalem would be old enough to remember it. None, however, would ever be forgotten by Him! Scripture says that He not only blessed them but blessed them 'very much'. There is always something extra in Christianity - it is life but also life "abundantly'' and our needs are supplied from God's "riches in glory in Christ Jesus".

We rejoice that the Lord Jesus as a babe was received into the arms of Simeon the very first time that He was brought amongst the people. Later, when so many older ones had refused Him, it was the children who gave Him a right royal welcome. They cried in the temple "Hosanna" which showed that they could tell that He was the Saviour. In this they knew more than the wise elders! It is possible that some of these children had been blessed by Jesus during His journey: in any case we learn that happiness depends not only on what we receive but in giving honour to the Blesser.

The Lord graciously called the temple 'God's house' and I am sure the children had a welcome there although the men who sold and bought things were chased out. Two of the greatest prophets had said hundreds of years before that God's house should not be a den of robbers but a place of prayer, and that people should be joyful there. Since the Holy Spirit has come to dwell in believers the house is no longer one made of stone or brick but is formed by believers themselves who are "living stones".

The only miracle recorded by all four gospel-writers is the feeding of over five thousand people by the Lord Jesus. He used what a little boy had brought, which seemed to be the only food there. That child must have been one of the true followers of Jesus because the apostles and disciples said 'We have five loaves and two fishes'. Probably his feeling of welcome became one of alarm when all his food was taken away from him! But this feeling would soon be changed to joy that so many persons were satisfied through it. Have you some knowledge of Jesus that He can use to feed the souls of others?

 

J.C.Evershed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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