December 16

The dead in Christ shall rise first. — 1 THESS. IV. 16.

Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. — JOHN XI. 11.

JESUS called Lazarus his friend, — blessed title, glorious privilege, friend of Jesus! Am I his friend? He gives us the test, — “Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you.” His command is, trust me, love me, serve me. Do I obey this? Then I am Jesus’ friend, and what is more, he is my friend. This friendship is a treasure neither time nor chance, men nor devils, life nor death can take away. Let us not imagine Christ is not our friend because we suffer. He allowed Lazarus to die, yet we are told Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Jesus’ friends now upon earth may all die, may all sleep: but he has not forgotten them, one day he will say to the angels: “My friends sleep, but I go to awake them.” Then the Lord himself shall descend with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

E. H. Harding.

Asleep in Jesus! Oh, for me

May such a blissful refuge be!

Securely shall my ashes lie,

And wait the summons from on high.

MRS. MARGARET MACKAY