0217. FIVE SHARP WATCHWORDS.

FIVE SHARP WATCHWORDS.

Introduction.

1. Gossner, in, bidding good-bye to the missionaries he had trained, was accustomed to say to them in parting: "Believe, Love, Hope, Pray, Burn."

2. He considered that that is the way to help the world in its woe.

3. Surely we could not have five better watchwords for guidance, and for inspiration. That is the way to become a real help. Let us examine them.

I. Believe.

1. First act of the individual expected. The first act of all true working is faith.

2. First step downward was lack of trust, hence the Fall. The first step upward is faith.

3. Shortest chapter in Bible is Psalm 117.

4. But Psa_118:8 and Psa_118:9 of next Psalm are, numerically, the centre of the whole Bible.

5. Faith should be the centre of our lives.

6. The first act leading to salvation should become the habit of our lives.

7. Faith required for our work, as well as for our soul.

II. Love. Ah, here is the warmth. The Pharisaical spirit kills-we require more love. Love (1) begets love; (2) constrains us; (3) wins. Love never reckons sacrifices made for God or others. All real work done for God means sacrifice, yet we won’t reckon up such sacrifice.

III. Hope. In keeping of other two graces. Faith, hope, love. Hope is in the care of faith and love. Various Bible hopes, for ourselves. Yet we require not only hope for ourselves, but hope concerning others. Cultivate a sanguine temperament.

IV. Pray. Ah, this is the one thing lacking in modern

1. Church life. Prayer meetings, alas, have in many cases died out.

2. Individual life. How long do you pray?

Prayer is service. There are mysteries in its philosophy. But, He knows, He loves, He cares, etc., we cling to this fact and find it helps.

V. Burn. "Stir into flame the gift that is in thee." "He was a burning and a shining light." Shining means, burning. That means sacrifice. The way of the Cross:

1. Leads Home.

2. Leads to burning.

3. Leads to shining.

Autor: James Smith