The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1902, Page 18

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

18

The Lutheran Pioneer.

(For the LUTHERAN PIONEER.)

Of God.

Tue ATTRIBUTES OF Gop.
(Continued.)

8. God is omnipotent; that is, He is al-
mighty, all-powerful. ‘‘With God nothing
shall be impossible,’’ Gabriel said to Mary,
Luke 1,87. He can do whatever He pleases,
Ps. 115, 8. He can do whatever He will in
heaven and in earth. He need but speak,
“tet this or that be,’’ anditisdone. If there
be one attribute of God more manifest and
apparent than others, it is God’s omnipotence.
It is simply impossible to believe that there is
a God, and yet deny His almighty power, His
ability to do what He will. By Him the heavens
were made and all the starry host; yes, the
worlds were framed by His word. And this,
the creation of the heavens and
the earth, was the effect of but
aword. Think of this and then
try to put a limit to God’s power.

But His omnipotence is still
apparent to all that do not will-
fully close their eyes; for by His
mighty power alone all is made,
and wrought, and done. He cares
for us by day and night, all things
are governed by His might. To
see the sun in his fiery chariot
racing through the heavens with-
in his prescribed course, never
swerving to the right nor to the
left; to behold the millions of
stars rushing across the firma-
ment in what appears to our eyes
a bewildering maze, and yet never
colliding —what else does this
prove but that there is One who
guides these fiery orbs in their
courses with an omnipotenthand!
Men often lose control over the
creatures of their hands, but God never. He
that sent the planet rolling through space
guides its progress with unslackening rein;
He that sets loose the wind and the waves
needs but lift up His finger to make all calm
and still. The Lord God Omnipotent reigneth!

What a comforting thought: our God is al-
mighty! Though devils all the world should
fill, all watching to devour us, we tremble not,
we fear no ill, they cannot overpower us. The
Almighty is our God, who shall be against us?

4. God is omniscient; His knowledge and
wisdom have no limits. God’s knowledge is
infinite, it reaches from eternity to eternity.
Every thought, word, and deed of the past,
present, and future is known to Him. David
says of God’s knowledge: ‘Lord, Thou hast
searched me, and known me. ‘Thou knowest
my downsitting and mine uprising. Thou un-
derstandest my thought afar off. Thou com-
passest my path and my lying down, and art
acquainted with all my ways. For there is
not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord,
Thou knowest it altogether,’’ Ps. 139, 1—4.

The eye of the Lord is on every one of His
creatures. The very hairs on our heads are
all numbered. His knowledge extends to the
very smallest and most insignificant things, as
it does to the greatest and most stupendous.
A single glance of His eye embraces the whole
universe, and yet the smallest detail does not
escape its notice.

Likewise, His wisdom has no bounds. For
means it fails Him never, He always finds a
way.

Deep in unfathomable mines

Of never-failing skill

He treasures up His bright designs,
And works His sovereign will.

He always knows what means to apply to at-|
tain the desired end. ‘With Him is wisdom |
and strength; He hath counsel and under-
standing,’’ Job 12, 13. We need but think |

PENTECOST.

of the plans of creation and redemption to be
compelled to exclaim with Paul, ‘‘O the depth
of the riches both of the wisdom and know!l-
edge of God!’’

What a comfort and what a powerful ex-
hortation to trust in Him lies in this thought!
Our God has the power to help us, He knows
when to help us, and He knows how to help us.
But, again, how should the thought of God’s
omniscience likewise admonish us to take heed
to our thoughts, words, and deeds, since noth-
ing is hidden from His sight, ¥F. J. L.

——S +0 +

A Golden Promise.

**As thy day, so shall thy strength be.’’
Thy day. Thy day of responsibility. Thy day
of anxious planning. Thy day of severe toil.
Thy day of sorrow. Thy day shall be equal
to the measure of responsibility, of anxiety, of
toil, of temptation, and sorrow. That is won-
derful. Itis very gracious. Do you believe it?
God has promised. He never deceives. Trust
Him. N. J. B.

“Charity Seeketh not Her Own.”

Oberlin, the well-known philanthropist, had
occasion to make a trying trip during the win-
ter season. The ground was deeply covered
with snow, rendering the roads almost impass-
able. When he had traveled about half the

| way, he was completely exhausted, and felt

sleep overcoming him. All his efforts to keep
awake were in vain. Commending himself to
God, he surrendered to what he expected to

| be the sleep of death.

Suddenly Oberlin became conscious of some
one arousing him. Opening his eyes, he no-
ticed a man who offered him some food and
wine. When he had partaken of this, the
stranger led him to his wagon and brought him
to the next village. With many sincere thanks
the rescued sufferer offered his benefactor a
reward, which was positively re-
fused.

‘Tt is our duty to help one
another,’’ said the wagoner, ‘‘and
it is the next thing to an insult
to offer a reward for such a
service.’’

‘*At least tell me your name,”’
Oberlin rejoined, ‘‘that I may
remember my benefactor before
God.”’

“T perceive that you are a
minister of the Gospel,’’ said
the other. ‘Will you please
tell me the Good. Samaritan’s
name?’’

“That is not possible,’’ said
Oberlin, ‘‘for it is not recorded.”’

‘“Well,’’ replied the modest
stranger, ‘‘until you can tell me
his name, you will permit me to
withhold mine.’’

God is Everywhere.

‘You teach,”’ once said the Emperor Trajan
to Rabbi Joshua, ‘‘that your God is every-
where, and say that He lives in the midst of
His people. I should very much like to see
Him.”’ ‘God is undoubtedly omnipresent,”
was the answer of Joshua, ‘‘but no one can
see Him; no mortal eye could bear to look
upon His glory.’’ But this answer did not
satisfy the emperor. Upon this, Joshua said:
‘*Very well, let us first go to one of His am-
bassadors.’’ The emperor consented. Joshua
led the emperor out into his garden and re-
quested him to look into the sun. ‘‘I cannot
see,’’ exclaimed Trajan, ‘‘the light blinds me.””
“You are not able to bear the light of one of
His creatures,’’ rejoined Joshua, ‘‘how, then,
can you expect to look upon the brightness -
and glory of the Creator? Think you not that
Such a look would kill you?’’ —Sel.

——<s o-m0

Weaners of priceless jewels are they whose

hearts are adorned with divine grace.