JESUS Is To Be My Pattern, My Model, Whom I Set Deliberately Before Me!

Death will be gain indeed!
(Alexander Smellie, "The Hour of Silence" 1899)

"For to me, to live is CHRIST 
and to die is gain!" Philippians 1:21  

Death will not be gain to me--
unless my life is lived for CHRIST!

It must be my passion to know CHRIST. 
Every day I ought to learn a little more of HIM 
and HIS truths. Every day I ought to become 
somewhat more conversant with HIS will. 
In HIS school, it is impossible for me 
ever to finish my education, for . . .
  there is so much to learn,
  there are such mysteries to master,
  there are such heights to scale!

It must be my ambition to follow CHRIST. 
JESUS going about doing good in the Galilean fields; 
JESUS praying on the cold mountains; 
JESUS bowing to the FATHER'S will 
in the garden and on the cross--
HE is to be my Pattern, my Model, 
whom I set deliberately before me!

It must be my joy to speak with CHRIST. 
I should always be lifting up my heart to HIM 
I should keep telling HIM . . .
  my every thought,
  my every desire,
  my every need,
  my every problem,
  my every misgiving and fear. 
Between friends so close and true--
there must be no reservations, no secrets.

It must be my longing to serve CHRIST. 
Though I cannot do it in a conspicuous sphere--
yet, up to the farthest verge and limit of my ability, 
I will labor for HIM. And I rejoice to remember 
that mere show and public ministry 
count for nothing with HIM--
the humble and loving heart is everything!

And then, and then, death will be gain indeed! 
Then, when HE calls me home--
I shall go to HIM with the gladness 
of a boy bounding home from school!

  ~  ~  ~  ~  ~

Many of you have been asking for it, and we have just published Alexander Smellie's choice devotional book, "The Hour of Silence". 

Graham Scroggie said of Smellie (pronounced 'Smiley') "He was perhaps the greatest devotional writer of his generation, and by reason of his spiritual penetration, the literary force and beauty of his style, together with the simplicity and profoundness of his thought--he was read in all sections of the Christian church, and was loved as well as read." 
As an eyewitness said of him, "He preached with eternity stamped upon his brow! I yet see his seraphic countenance, and hear his sweet and tender voice. I was spell-bound, and could not keep my eyes off him for a moment. What a sermon! I trembled, and never felt GOD so near. His appeals went to my heart, and, as he spoke of the last day in the darkening twilight, for once I began to pray!"