The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1905, Page 36

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The Lutheran Pioneer.

Man’s First Care.

‘*Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every
word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God,’”’
Matt. 4, 4.

This is the common sin of men that they care
very little for the Word, but are chiefly concerned
with their bread and the support of this present life.
They are not aware that these are the snares of the
devil, and say to themselves: If I only had a com-
fortable home and a well-filled treasury, then I
would mind the Gospel. No, says Christ, the very
reverse! You ought to say: I must first of all care
for the needs of my soul and see how I stand with
my God, and cling to Him with strong faith though
my body should perish. Then God will surely give
what our body needs (Matt. 6, 33). In order to be
kept from such temptation you must learn from
Christ that there are two kinds of bread for man.
The first and the best bread is that which comes
from heaven, the Word of God. The other and less
important bread is that which grows out of the
ground for our temporal wants. If, then, I have
the first and best bread from heaven, I may rest as-
sured that I will also have my temporal bread as
long as I am to live in this world, even if the very
stones would have to be turned into bread. There-
fore, if the devil pinches you with poverty, afflic-
tion, and starvation, suffer with Christ, and do not
give up your trust in God’s grace. Nothing can
comfort us in such trials but the Word of God.
Whosoever eateth of this bread, that is, whosoever
believeth the Word, hath everlasting life. But our
temporal bread, after which the whole world is run-
ning all the time, only lasts to the hour of death.
Then it is all gone, and there remains nothing but
everlasting starvation where man is not provided
with the Word of God by faith as his food that
abideth forever. — Luther.

His Last Words.

A professor in Bonn was about to operate on the
tongue of a young man who was suffering with a
cancer on that member. Before beginning the op-
eration the professor said: “‘If you have anything
to say, you had better say it now, for after the
operation you will never be able to utter a word.”
The young. man said: ‘‘Praised be the Lord Jesus
Christ,’ and never spoke afterwards. That was the
best thing he could have uttered. No wonder that
all present were very much touched, and that tears
stood in the eyes of the professor.

As none of us knows what will be his last utter-
ance, each one should see to it that he say nothing
which he might have reason to regret, and that all
his words be in harmony with those of the young
man at Bonn. No opportunity to praise the Lord
Jesus should be neglected. He should have the
first and last fruits of our lips; for there is no other
name under heaven given among men whereby we
can_be saved, except the blessed name of Jesus. At
that name every knee shall bow of things in heaven,
and things in earth, and things under the earth;
and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is
Lord, to the glory of God the Father.— Ex.

_ tee

“Out of the Mouth of Babes.’’

A girl six years old was on a visit to her grand-
father, who was a New England divine, celebrated
for his logical powers.

“Only think, grandpa, what Uncle Robert says.”

‘“What does he say, my dear?”’

‘“‘Why, he says the moon is made of green
cheese. It isn’t at all, is it?”

‘‘Well, child, suppose you find out for your-
self???

“How can I, grandpa?’’

“Get your Bible and see what it says.”

‘“Where shall I begin?”’

‘‘Begin at the beginning.’’ The child sat down
to read the Bible. Before she got more than half
through the second chapter of Genesis, and had
read about the creation of the stars and animals,
she came back to her grandfather, her eyes all
bright with the excitement of discovery : —‘‘I’ve
found it, grandpa! itisn’ttrue; God made the moon
before He made any cows.”’

“The last shall be first, and the first, last.”

No man is so high or may ascend to such height, .
that he would not have to fear he might yet be-
come the very lowest. And again, no one may fall
so low that he might not hope he might yet become
the highest, because all human merit is here abol-
ished and God’s goodness alone is exalted. When
He says: ‘‘The first shall be last,’? He puts down
all your presumption and forbids you to think your-
self better than the worst outcast, even though you
were equal to Abraham, David, Peter, or Paul. But
when He says: ‘‘The last shall be first,’’ He keeps
you from all despair and forbids you to fall behind
any of the saints, even though you were Pilate or
Herod, Sodom and Gomorrha. — Luther. 4