Amerikai Magyar Reformátusok Lapja, 1936 (37. évfolyam, 1-47. szám)

1936-09-23 / 34. szám

AMERIKAI MAGYAR REFORMÁTUSOK LAPJA 3-ik oldal Young People’s Department THE CLAY IN THE POTTER’S HAND (An address delivered by Dr. Louis Nanassy at the C.E. Regional Conference, at Brownsville, Pa. on Sept. 20, 1936.) Jermiah, the second of the greater prophets, invites us to the potter’s house. Let us rise and go with him. The potter is turning and shap­ing on his small wheel ma.de to revolve rapidly by the foot, the lump of clay, which :he had previously mixed. A pan of water stands by his side, with which he keeps the clay moist. After the body of vessel is worked into shape and beauty, the handle is» af­fixed to it and devices are traced upon it. Then the finished vessel is glazed and baked in a furnace. The potter’s control over the clay illustrates the su­preme power of God, who made of us clay and forms and disposes of us, as he deems good. God is the great Master Mechanic, who is able to create us in His own image. How beautiful are the human souls, which obeying His will and creative power are shining as useful and decorated vessels. The trouble is, that be­sides God, another person is sitting by the potter’s wheel. He is Satan. He pre­tends to do a better job than God. He allures human souls to himself and they are fool­ish enough to take advices from him to be shaped ac­cording to his will. If you see pitiful, fallen, sinful in­dividuals do not forget, that they are the creatures of Sa­tan. One vessel is made un­to honor, and another unto dishonor. Dear young friends, the fundamental law of our re­ligious life is contained in these few words: “We are dependent upon God.” He is our Creator, He has revealed us His will in His Son, Jesus Christ. We, with our bodies and souls, belong to Him. As the potter has control over the clay, so has God or if we are careless or indiffer­ent towards Him : suddenly Satan sneaks in and begins to spoil us. We are dependent upon God: tihs is not only the fundamental, but as well the eternal and unchanged law of our spiritual life. We are living in a changing world, but two principles did not change since the foundation of the earth and they never will: the eternal will of our God and our sinful nature. God is still the great Potter, who has absolute power over us and we are nothing but clay in comparison with Him. No matter, whether we are young or old, if we forget this fundamental law, we are as surely inflicting harm up­on our souls, as we are in­juring our bodies by doing contrary to the law of Na­ture. The stone thrown up in the air comes back to earth, all waters are running towards the oceans: these are simple and unchangeable physical laws. The ten com- mendments and the everlast­ing truths contained in the Gospel are the permanent and abiding laws of our moral and religious life. They are as valid now, as they have been two thousand years ago. We are still the clay and God is the Potter, the eternal and great Master Mechanic. Why can not you interest every young person in the C. E. work? Why do we find young and old people, who do not take their relig­ious life seriously? Because they do not realize anymore their dependence upon God. They seem to be good look­ing trees but without roots and fruits. Their pitiful fate is sealed. William Chalmers Covert, tone of the leading clergy­men of the Presbyterian Church, in his latest book en­titled “Facing Our Day” says: “Pleasure has been a consuming passion of our generation. It was an emo­tional rebound from the long strain of war. It was stim­ulated by commercial greed. It was fed by a spirit of per­sonal liberty which rebelled against restraint and inhibi­tions of every kind. We have been a generation of gaity lovers seeking new' thrills and strange sensations.” God wants us to enjoy this life, which is His pre­cious gift. He wants us to be joyous and happy. However, we are dependent upon God even while experiencing our joys. If we forget that He is just and holy and He has re­vealed us His eternal law, against which we try to re­bel : we shall impair our in­ner peace, our sins will be separating walls between God and ourselves and the clay will soon find out with deep resignation and penit­ence, that without punish­BERTÓK GYULA, TOLEDO, O. ment we can not overthrow the supreme authority of God, who. is still the Potter and we are the clay in his hand. Or take our churchlife. Young and old people are wanted here to spread the kingdom of God. It is a pri­vilege for us to be laborers with God and His husban­dry! However, if we are do­ing our work just for person­al ambition, with jealousy to­wards others, seeking our glory instead that of God: the clay shall be destitute of strength in its endeavor and our whole work will be spoiled. Finally, take our social and national life. What is Wrong with America and with other countries of the world.? Is our liberty at stake ? Remember, what Coolidge, our former presi­dent said: “If we as a people, are too weak to take charge of our morality, we shall not be strong enough to take charge of our liberty.” If we wish to maintain our liberty, first we shall protect and preserve our morality. How? The only way: be dependent upon God. He is the power­ful Potter and we are the clay. God is able to form beauti­ful vessels of worthless clay. He can mold you and you may be like Paul, the apos­tle, Calvin, the reformer, Mary of Bethany or Susanna Lorántffy of Hungary. The most precious pattern God ever shaped is Jesus Christ. He is our example and goal. If we are imbued with His spirit and strength, beautiful vessels can be formed' of the weak and cheap clay. I invited you to the pott­er’s house. I am sure that you, who came to attend this conference, want to meet God in His house. We are clay. Clay is a common com­pound of alluminum and si­lica. We are a compound of mortal bodies and immortal souls. How precious are our souls in the eyes of God: His Son died for our sins on the cross! You are now in the Potter’s house. He wants to mold and shape you in the image of Jesus Christ. Obey Him and the prophecy will be fulfilled: “It shall come to pass that in the place where it was said unto them : ye are not my people: there shall they be called the child­ren of the living God, Amen. LEVELEK ÉRKEZTEK “SOK ÁLDÁSBAN részesültem a Lap által. Szükségesnek tar­tom, Logy minden keresztyén testvér járassa az egyházi Lapot, mert az által lélekben össze vagyunk kapcsolva. Van alkalmunk, ha nem is ösmerjük egymást testben, de lélekben megösmerkedni és épületet szerezni az Ur Jézus Krisztus által. Megint előfizetek és a Lap ér­dekében fogok működni . . . Fogunk imádkozni az ügyért, mert én meg vagyok győződve, hogy ima által nagy munkát végezhetünk el.” KOTÁNY JÁNOSNÉ, CHICAGO ,ILL. “TOVÁBBRA IS KÉPVISELEM a Ref. Lapját Toledoban és környékén. Amilyen szép terjedelmes a Lap, sikerülni fog uj elő­fizetőket is szerezni, mert hiszen illő volna, hogy az Amerikai Ref- formátus Magyarság ezt az egy vallásos lapunkat fentartaná ésj még nagyobb s terjedelmesebbé tenné, amit egy kis jóakarat és utánné- zéssel el is lehet érni ...” “NEM NÉLKÜLÖZHETEM ezt a kis lapot, úgy fájt, hogy nem jött egy ideig. Milyen kár, hogy nem bírjuk fentartani, pedig elég sok református magyar van Amerikában.” ÖZV. KURUC BERTALANNÉ, Youngstown, O. “MELLÉKELEK két dollárt a Reformátusok Lapjáért. Szinte sirt a lelkem», hogy beszüntetik, mert nem küldtem be az árát. Res- teltem is, mert tessék elhinni, spkszor az is hiba, nincs az a pénz, de azért, kinek a Lap kell, számit rája. Csak sokszor postára kellene menni feladni a pénzt és majd akkor, é's a sok majdból több h map lesz, ekkorra meg elfogyott a rája való. Hanem kell hogy legyen minden egyháznál, aki azt beszedné, ha már a Lelkész Urak nem . . . Bárcsak adna a jó Isten nem ezer, hanem 10 ezer előfizetőt.” GERGELY JÁNOSNÉ, Weatland, Pa.

Next

/
  • Elrendezés
  • Igazítás
  • Forgatás
Oldalképek
Tartalom