Part 3 (2/2)

--_Elizabeth C. Clephane_

”=_The Paths of Righteousness_=”

”He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.”

These words are strikingly significant, and show forth the tender aspect of G.o.d's guidance. Ofttimes, after rain, the heavy wagon wheels would leave deep ruts in the road, which in cold weather would become hardened and make it difficult for the sheep to walk. Not such roads did the true shepherd willingly choose for his sheep. If compelled, however, to take such roads, he would choose those that had been flattened down by wagon wheels until level. He chose those roads that had been worn smooth, that the tender feet of the sheep might not be bruised. ”He leadeth me in smooth roads.” ”Thou didst sustain them in the wilderness; their feet swelled not.”

He who follows the divine leading will always be led aright. His feet will travel in ”right roads.” No man will go wrong who follows Christ.

He never leads the soul into questionable places, and no feet guided by Him will go into any place where He Himself does not go. ”Where I am, there shall my servant be.” ”He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness.” ”G.o.d is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellows.h.i.+p with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth.” Sometimes the road He chooses may not be after our liking, but it will always be for our best interest, welfare and usefulness. This fact will eventually be made clear to us, and we will gladly go with Him all the way.

I said, ”Let me walk in the fields,”

He said, ”No, walk in the town,”

I said, ”There are no flowers there,”

He said, ”No flowers, but a crown.”

I said, ”But the skies are black; There is nothing but noise and din,”

But He wept as He sent me back-- ”There is more,” He said, ”there is sin.”

I said, ”But the air is thick, And fogs are veiling the sun,”

He answered, ”Yet souls are sick, And souls in the dark, undone.”

I said, ”I shall miss the light, And friends will miss me, they say.”

He answered: ”Choose tonight If I am to miss you or they.”

I pleaded for time to be given.

He said, ”It is hard to decide?

It will not seem hard in heaven, To have followed the steps of your guide.”

I cast one look at the fields, Then set my face to the town.

He said, ”My child, do you yield?

Will you leave the flowers for the crown?”

Then into His hand went mine, And into my heart came He; And I walk in a light divine, The paths I had feared to see.

--_George MacDonald_

”=_His Name's Sake_=”

All this He does for His name's sake. How beautiful those words are, ”_for His name's sake_.” Christ's own glory is involved in the security and care of His children. The physician cares for your child who is sick unto death, for your sake, it is true, but for ”his own name's sake” as well. To lose your child would hurt his reputation and practice. The lawyer protects his client for his client's sake, it is true, but also, and perhaps more so, for ”his own name's sake.” To lose the case would be to hurt his standing in the legal profession. The pilot guides the s.h.i.+p safely into harbor for the pa.s.sengers' sake, it is true, but more particularly for ”his own name's sake,” for to lose the s.h.i.+p would be to lose his license.

We remember that Jesus said, ”Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory.” He also said, ”And of all that thou hast given me, I have lost none.”

Christ Himself is the door. His broad figure and bulk fills it. Who shall strip Him of His power, or rob Him of His sheep? He is the secret of the security of the believer; yea, He is the security itself. We are hid in Him. It is rather the perseverance of the Christ than of the believer. Here, then, is the security of the believer, saved and kept for ”His own name's sake.”

How proud we are of someone who is named after us! We have more solicitude and care for the child that carries our name than for other children. _For His name's sake_, therefore, is an indication of the intense, intimate interest and care of the Christ for His people. Do we not recall what Moses said to Jehovah when He said He thought to destroy the people of Israel? Did not Moses plead thus with G.o.d, ”If thou dost destroy them, what shall we say to the nations, and what wilt thou do for thine own name's sake?”

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