Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-04-27
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR.
Topic For the Week Beginning May 1.
Comment by Rev. 5. ii. Doyle.

Comment by Rev. 5. ii. Doyle.
ToPIc.-l.ittle ways of lettering the world.
Phil. ii. Iii; Math. V, 1915.
The duty Of the Christian is to make
the wGrld better. This was the mission
of Christ, and what He did is to be done
by His disciples. Christ taught this
duty to His disciples. "Ye are the salt
of the earth, " He said. Salt purities,
salt preserves, 1t makes better and it
Keeps better that with which it comes
in contact. Thus the Christian as the
salt Of the earth Is to make the earth
better and to keepit better. I'VE are the
light Of the world, says Christ again.
Light shines in darkness and dispels 1t,
thus making everything better about
it. Thus, says Christ, Christians are to
let their light shine, that men may see
their good works and glorify their Fa-
thtr who is in heaven.
The Christian is to make the world
better by bringing it into the proper re-
lation to God. This is the only true way
to make it any better, The good works
of Christ disciples are not to lead men
to glorify them, but to glorlfy God.
This is to be done the apostle practical
" argues in Phil. ii, 12-l6, by obedi
ence to God. If we obey God in the
right kind of way, men are led to see
the beauty and the true method of ODE
dience. They are thus led to obey God
properly, and it is this that leads to
their improvement morally and spiritu-
ally. Obedience seems like little thing
-trifling and northumberland yet 1t
is tremendously important factor in
human life. Disobedience kept the chill
dren of Israel out of the land Of Canaan,
and disobedience will keep many out of
the heavenly land typified by Canaan.
When we obey God, we work out our
salvation after we are saved but we not
only work out our own salvation in this
way, but fill others with longings and
aspirations to serve God with untold
betterment to themselves.
The characteristics Of Christian obe-
dience as set forth by Paul are: (D A
cheerful obedience. do all things with
out murmurings" phil. ii, Ia. tits not
enough to obey God. We must do ii
willingly and cheerfully. When we obey,
but with complaint and murmuring,
obedience is robbed of much Of it's vir
tue and would discourage rather than
encourage others in obedience. (2) An
implicit, trustful obedience. Without
murmurinss and disputings." For dis
putings read "doubtings. How many
obey God but with hestancy, doubt
and argument? Would such obedience
encourage others? Rather would it not
discourage them. If Christians obey God
doubtingly, how could we expect those
who are not Christians to obey him. 80
Filial obedience. "That We may be
blameless and harmless the SONS of God. .
As sons we are to obey God. The slave
may murmur and doubt, but the son
never. The work may be laborious, at
times it may be disagreeable, and yet
the son should not complain for he is
working for himself in working for his
father As a son he is the heir, and
therefore the fruit Of his toll will some
day be his own. In working for God we
work for ourselves, and if we can i'm
press men with this truth we will in
deed be as lights in the world, dispel-
ling darkness and making the world not
only better, but happier.
Bible Readings. i Sam. XIV, % :;
Math. X, ~; xxi, "a 80; XIV, 3146
Luke Y, 25-37; Rom. xii, 9-2l; XIV, 1-3;
l Cor. X, 81 Gal. vi, 8; Eph. iv, 32;
Heb. xiii, /, 2; Jas. V, ia; Pet. i,
80; ii, II; iii, S-l2.