February 16

"One Jesus."—Acts 25:19.

ONE JESUS, said Festus, with the contempt of the proud and supercilious Roman in his voice.

One Jesus, says the busy man of the world, and passes on uninterested and preoccupied. Other persons, other things, concern him infinitely more than the Son of God. The Christian's faith and hope and love are a sealed book to him. Late and soon, getting and spending, he lays waste his powers.

One Jesus, says the thoughtful and reverent unbeliever, and bows his head in admiration if not in adoration. Christ represents to him what is most beautiful and most worthy, the consummate Flower of humankind. But he withholds his own heart and life from the Saviour, Whom he needs and Who needs him too.

One Jesus, says the nominal Christian, and renders his external worship and devotion. He is in the Church, but he is not of the Church. He has never been born again, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. All that is spiritual, all that is divine, all that is supersensual and heavenly, is an unknown territory to him.

One Jesus, says the humble and trustful disciple, and his whole soul is in his voice. Christ is his Prophet and Priest and King, his good Physician, his good Shepherd, his Lover, his Beloved. More than all in Him he finds. Day by day he turns like the sunflower to the one and only Sun. Night by night he pillows his head and his heart on the sufficient love of his Lord.

Mine be these last accents and tones, for there is no blessedness except in them.