Days of Heaven Upon Earth

Devotional For

December 31

      "I pray not that Thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that Thou shouldst keep them from the evil" (John xvii. 15).
      
      He wants us here for some higher purpose than mere existence. That purpose is nothing else than to represent Him to the world, to be the messengers of His Gospel and His will to men, and by our lives to exhibit to them the true life, and teach them how to live it themselves.
      
      He is representing us yonder, and our one business is to represent Him here. We are just as truly sent into this world to represent Him as if we had gone to China as the ambassador of the American Government.
      
      While engaged in the secular affairs of life, it is simply that we may represent Him there, carry on His business, and have means to use for His affairs. He came here from another realm, and with a special message, and when His work was done He was called to go home to His Father's dwelling-place and His own.
      
      Lord, help me to worthily represent Thee.
      
      And carry music in our heart
          Through busy street and wrangling mart;
      Plying our daily task with busier feet,
          Because our souls a heavenly strain repeat.