"They asked each other, 'Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?' But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away!" Mark 16:3-4
We are all alike. Even these holy women on this most sacred errand, seemed to borrow trouble. There was a stone in the way which must be rolled aside, and they had not the strength to do it. Naturally enough, they began to be anxious as to the removal of this obstacle. When they came near — they saw that the obstacle had been already removed! The Divine love had been beforehand in preparing the way for them. Angels had rolled the stone aside.
The lesson is very simple and beautiful. We go forward worrying about the difficulties that lie before us, wondering how we can ever get through them, or who will remove them out of our way. Then when we come up to them — we find that they are gone! Someone has been there before us, and has taken them away. God always opens the way of duty for us — if we quietly move on.
This applies to one beginning a Christian life. Many people shrink from it. They say: "I can never be faithful. I can never do the duties. I can never bear the burdens." But as they enter and go on — they find that an unseen and almighty Helper goes on before them — and prepares the way. The hard tasks become easy — and the heavy burdens grow light.
It is so all through the Christian life. God's commandments seem impossible to obey. Walls of stone seem built across the path which we are required to walk over. But as we go on, we find that the commandments are easy, and a gateway is opened in the impenetrable wall. Love and faith always have an advance of angels to roll away stones. The practical lesson is, that we are never to hesitate nor shrink back — because obstacles seem to lie before us. We are to go right on — and God will take them away for us. When He wants us to go anywhere — He will open the path for our feet. Knowing this, we may go on feeling confident of our own safety.
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J.R. Miller (1840 - 1912)
Prolific author and pastor of Presbyterian churches in Pennsylvania and Illinois, Rev. James Russell Miller served the USCC as a field agent in the Army of the Potomac and Army of the Cumberland.J.R. Miller began contributing articles to religious papers while at Allegheny Seminary. This continued while he was at the First United, Bethany, and New Broadway churches. In 1875, Miller took over from Henry C. McCook, D.D. when the latter discontinued his weekly articles in The Presbyterian, which was published in Philadelphia. J.R. Miller D.D.'s lasting fame is through his over 50 books. Many are still in publication.
James Russell Miller (March 20, 1840 - July 2, 1912) was a popular Christian author, Editorial Superintendent of the Presbyterian Board of Publication, and pastor of several churches in Pennsylvania and Illinois.
In 1857, James entered Beaver Academy and in 1862 he progressed to Westminster College, Pennsylvania, which he graduated in June, 1862. Then in the autumn of that year he entered the theological seminary of the United Presbyterian Church at Allegheny, Pennsylvania. Mr. Miller resumed his interrupted studies at the Allegheny Theological Seminary in the fall of 1865 and completed them in the spring of 1867. That summer he accepted a call from the First United Presbyterian Church of New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. He was ordained and installed on September 11, 1867.
J.R. Miller began contributing articles to religious papers while at Allegheny Seminary. This continued while he was at the First United, Bethany, and New Broadway churches. In 1875, Miller took over from Henry C. McCook, D.D. when the latter discontinued his weekly articles in The Presbyterian, which was published in Philadelphia.
Five years later, in 1880, Dr. Miller became assistant to the Editorial Secretary at the The Presbyterian Board of Publication, also in Philadelphia.