The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1916, Page 33

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Che Lutheran Pioneer.

A MISSIONARY MONTHLY.

—s oe

Pusuisuep By THE EvancenicaL Lurikran SynopicaAL CoNFERENCE oF Nortu AMERICA.

Rev. F. J. LANKENAU, EDITOR.

Entered at the Post Office at St. Louis, Mo., us second-class matter.

Vol. XXXVIII.

ST. LOUIS, MO., MAY, 1916.

Immanuel, Protect Our Helpless Hearts.

Immanuel, protect our helpless hearts

From Satan’s anger and his fiery darts,
But also from our evil flesh and blood,
And from the wicked world’s seductive arts.

These cruel foes assail us constantly;

But, Lord, we put our confidence in Thee,
For Thou art with us every day and hour,
Still helping us to gain the victory.

We have Thy holy Word and Sacrament;
Especially the blessed days of Lent

Have placed Thy cross before our eyes aguin.
Whene’er we see Thy cross, we are content.

Be with us, Jesus Christ, by day and night,

Teach us to hate the wrong and love the riglit;

Direct our faltering steps continually,

And lead us homeward by Thy gracious might.
Amen. H. Osternus.

“T Am With You Alway.’’

It is impossible to conceive words more com-
forting, strengthening, cheering, and sanctifying
than these words spoken by our Savior to His dis-
ciples at the time when He withdrew His visible
presence from them. Though left alone, like orphan
children in a cold, unkind world, the disciples were
not to think that they were deserted. ‘Their Lord
would be ever with them. ‘Though commissioned
to do a work as hard as that of Moses when he was
sent to Pharaoh, they were not to be discouraged.
Their Lord would surely be with them. “No words
could be more suited to the position of those to
whom they were first spoken. No words could be
imagined that would be more comforting to be-
lievers in every age of the world. (

Let all true Christians lay hold upon these
words, and ever keep them in mind. Christ is

with us always. Christ is with us wherever we go.
He came to be our Immanuel, God with us, when
He first came into the world. And to His disciples
He declares that He is ever our Immanuel. He
is with us daily to pardon and forgive; He is with
us daily to sanctify and strengthen; He is with
us daily to guide and lead; He is with us daily to
defend and keep; He is with us in sorrow and in
joy; He is with us in sickness and in health; He
is with us in life and in death; He is with us.in
time and in eternity.

What sweeter comfort could believers desire
than this? Whatever happens, they are never
friendless and alone. Christ is ever with them.
They may look into the cold, dark grave and say
with David, “Though I walk through the valley of
the shadow of death, I will fear no.evil, for Thou
art with me.” They may look forward beyond the
grave and say with Paul, “We shall ever be with
the Lord.” He has said it, and He will stand by
it, “I am with you alway, even unto the end of the
world.” “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
—Can we ask for more? Surely not. Let us,
then, go on believing, and not be afraid. It is
everything to be a real Christian. None have such
a Lord, such a King, such a Priest, such a constant
Companion, and such an unfailing Friend as the
true believers in Christ. F. J. i.

' The Sinner’s Free Access to God.

Our Lord ‘and Savior Jesus Christ has made it
possible for us, by His death and departure from
this world to the Father, to have free access unto
God. We may under all circumstances pour out our
hearts before Him. — Luther.