When his Son was on the earth, clothing humanity with a perfection it had not known since it had forfeited paradise, the beautiful spectacle attracted the regard of God, and nothing would do but that he should send his voice down into the ranks of men exclaiming, " This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."
When Christ was about to depart out of the world, he took steps to have this pleased regard of the Father continue towards those whom he was to leave behind, even to his disciples of all future time. He offered up the prayer, " That the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them and I in them. For I am no more in the world, but they are in the world; and I am glorified in them." The Father could not resist these arguments. And so the Lord delighteth in the way of the good man, of him whose steps are ordered by him, and who follows in the footsteps of Christ. For he only is a good man in the estimation of heaven, whose steps are ordered by the Lord, who is led by the Spirit of God, to whom the word of God is a lamp.
A daily devotional written by a Baptist Missionary to India, Reverend George Bowen (1816-1888) over 150 years ago.
George H. Bowen (30 April 1816 at Middlebury, Vermont – 5 February 1888 at Bombay, India) was an American missionary, newspaper man, linguist, and translator in India. He was known as "The White Saint of India" for his resemblance in manner and dress to the Hindu holy men.
When his Son was on the earth, clothing humanity with a perfection it had not known since it had forfeited paradise, the beautiful spectacle attracted the regard of God, and nothing would do but that he should send his voice down into the ranks of men exclaiming, " This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."
When Christ was about to depart out of the world, he took steps to have this pleased regard of the Father continue towards those whom he was to leave behind, even to his disciples of all future time. He offered up the prayer, " That the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them and I in them. For I am no more in the world, but they are in the world; and I am glorified in them." The Father could not resist these arguments. And so the Lord delighteth in the way of the good man, of him whose steps are ordered by him, and who follows in the footsteps of Christ. For he only is a good man in the estimation of heaven, whose steps are ordered by the Lord, who is led by the Spirit of God, to whom the word of God is a lamp.