The Lutheran Pioneer 1898

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MISSIONARY MONTH.LY.

A

PUBLISHED BY THE

EvANGELICAL

Lu-rnERAN SYNODICAL CONFERENCE OF NORTH AMERICA. R. A, DISCllOFF, E<litor.

Entered at the Post Office at St. Lonls, llo., ns second-clnss m:utcr.

Vol. XX.

St. -Louis, Mo., January, 1898.

A Happy New Vear.

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All mca wish to enjoy a happy new year, but aot nil know what true happiness is. Many seek happiness in the riches and in the joys nnd plensures of this sia_ful world. They deceive thcmseh-es In the time of need, in the gloomy clays of sickness nnd sorrow their trensurcs will fail them. The new yenr which they enter so merrily mny be their Inst year upon earth, nnd if they die in their sins, they will enter an eternity of woe. What nn unhnppy year that will be! True happiness is found in Jesus only; for in Him only "we have redemption through Bis blood, the forgiveness of sins." Of Him the angel said, •'Thou shalt call His name J1:sus; for He shall save His people from their sins." Without salvation from sin, without forgiveness of sins there can be no true hnppiness; for sin is the source of all unhappiness. When sin entered the world, sickness nod sorrow and troubles and death came by sin. That is misery. We need n Saviour from sin, if we are to be made happy. This Saviour with His redemption from sin is brought to us in the Gospel, which calls to all burdened sinners, "Be of good cheer, thy sins be forgiven thee!" Sin and death, and all t&e woe that is the result of sin have Jost their ma11tery over them that believe in this Jesus, who came to save His people from their sins. Believers are happy ; for though they live in a world of sin and suffer for a season, they arc heirs of heaven and rejoice in tho hope of. glory. With good cheer they enter another year of their earthly pilgrimage. They may have heavy crosses to bear and many sorrows by the way. They may be poor and sick, and suffer pains of mind and body like other men. Yet they are not unhappy like those that know not Jesus. The faith with which they trust in the Saviour for forgiveness of sin and deliverance from death, enables them to trust in their heavenly Father for protection, nod guidance, and for the supply of all their earthly wants during their Juurney to the better land. They enjoy true happiness and are on the way to e,•erlastiog

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A pnstor was one clay called to see a young woman, who Isy dying. He found her in a dark corner of a poor garret room, on n llliserable bed. Cold sweat was upon her brow, nod her ey·es and mouth were closed. The pastor saw thnt denth wns ve!'y near. He asked her, "Do you suffer much pain?" She did not answer, nlthough be repeated the question in a louder voice. He, ns well as the mother, who stood near by, thought she had already become unconscious. The pastor, leaning over the bed, spQke ,•cry close to her ear, saying: "Do you know Jesus?" The sick woman opened her eyes and with a sweet smile whispered, "Yes, ~He is my Saviour." "Bow long have you known Hiip as your Saviour?" With, tears in her eyes she replied, "Not very long. Only since I became sick. Oh, I have been a great sinner, and I was so unhnppy. But Jesus loved me and took me up out of my misery. He bas redeemed me from nll sins by His precious blood-from all sins." "Are you happy then?" asked the pastor. With heavenly joy beaming in her face, she looked up and whispered, "Very happy." A few hours later she fell asleep in Jesus, in whom she bad found true happiness. Very happy! Would you not like to be very happy? Believe in Jesus, who cnme to save us from our sins and to lead us into the land of everlasting happiness. We wish you a happy new year.

------Trust in God.

•rhe Bible tells us to cast all our cares upon God, who careth for us. It tells us to commit our way unto the Lord,· The unbeliever can not do this. The man who thinks he can manage his affairs without God will not cast his cares upon God ; he will not commit his way unto the Lord. The Christian, however, trusts in God, his heavenly Father. He enters the new year without fear, knowing that God Is able to protect him In all dangers. '¥ears ago a train was rushing along on one of our railroads at great speed. The passen-

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gers were anxious, because it was the time of the wnr, and they were afraid that the enemy might tenr np the tracks or some olhl'r accident happen. A bright little girl came townrds a passenger and said, "Good morning," in a clear, sweet voice. The gentleman asked her if she was not afraid to ride on the cars. She said, "Sometimes, but I am not afraid this time." "Why are you not afraid this time? Everybody else seems to be afraid. , Besides, we arc running very rapidly." "Ob, there is no danger at all; papa is running the engine." Her father was the engineer, and she had such confidence in his ability to protect her, that she felt perfectly secure and· happy. When we ha,•e God to guide us, we have nothing to fear. He is much better able to proter.t us than the engineer on ;the train was to take care of his little daughter. The Christian also knows1that God is willing to take care of him. He has God's promises, which can not fail. And should not He who cares e,•en for the grass in the field take care of His children? A Christian traveler was once Jost in a desert and suffered many hardships. He felt desolate and forsaken. His eye fell npon a tiny piece of moss growing in the sand, and be said, "If God cares for such a little bit of moss as to keep it alive in this desert place, surely He cares for me;" and from it he gathered courage to go on till help came to him. "If God so clothe the grass of the field, shall Be not much more clothe you, 0 ye of little faith?" Look at the little bird as It goes to rest, Jetting God care for it. What a lesson it teaches us of our Father's care. Martin Luther said of one which he saw preparing to go to sleep, "That little bird has folded its little wings; gone trustfully to rest there as in Its home." Oh, let us never forget that we have a Father in heaven who cares for ne, and guides us In our way, and shelters us under Hie wings.


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