Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-04-17
RIsTIAN ENDEAVOR.


Topic For the Week Beginning April
21-Comment by Rev. 5. ii. Doyle.
Torro.-walking with Jesus.-Col. ii. 6, Z; Gal
=, 1926.
Walk, as figure of life. is Hebra-
ism introduced into the English trans
lation of the New Testament. Old Tes-
tament worthless such as Enoch and
Noah are said to have walked with
God" Borrowing this expression, the
translators of the New Testament
place before our minds the figures of
l''walking in truth" walking in the
Spirit walking with Christ" 1t is
an apt and suggestive figure. The
christian life is a walk with Christ.
Mo better practical definition of the
Christian life can be given than this.
The reception of Christ is the neces-
sary preliminary to walk with Christ.
..As We have therefore received Christ
Jesus the Lord, so walk We in Him."
The Colossians had received Christ.
They had received Him as Lord. There
fore Paul reasons they should walk in
Him. AS the Colossians first received
Christ before they could walk in Him,
SO must we. There can be no walking
in Him without a previous reception
of Him. Christ without is absolutely
impossible until we have Christ within.
The outward life is necessarily the ex-
preston of the inward life. Christ is
received by faith. AS a result of the
reception Of Christ, the heart, the in
ward principle of life, is changed. Then
Christ, being within, is lived without.
Having received Christ, we should
walk in Him. LAS We have received
Him, walk in Him. To receive Christ
and not to walk in Him would be both
unreasonable and impossible. Why
should we receive Christ if we do not
intend to walk with Him? And how
could we have Him in the heart and
His presence not be manifested in the
outward life? He has received Christ
in vain who does not walk with Him.
The Christians life is necessarily a
life of walking with Christ, a life of
union with Him. Christ is no latent
principle; He is not theme to be idly
contemplated nor creed to be indif-
ferently laid aside. Christ is a power,
divine power, that cannot be received
without being manifested.
The walk with Christ should possess
certain characteristics. /. 1t should be
enthusiastic. We receive Christ en-
Enthusiastically and should walk with
Him in the same way. 2. 1t should be
stable and progressive walk. "Hav-
ing been rooted and built up in Him."
The figures are changed here to denote
stability and growth. The tie that
binds US to Christ in our walk with
Him should not be a superficial one,
but one that can stand the test of
storm and of trial, and one that should
increase in character and in results
with time. 8. 1t should be a grateful
walk, Astounding therein with thanks
giving" We should be thankful to
God that we have the joy and the
privilege of walking with Christ. 4.
1t should be fruit bearing walk. A
life lived in union with Christ will pro-
duce the fruits of the Spirit and will
be free from the works of the flesh.
Gal. V, 1926.
THE PRAYER MEETING.
Let the leader or prayer meeting
committee arrange a Bible reading
covering the subject, walking With
Jesus"
BIBLE READINGS.
Ps, xiii. 16; lisa. ii, 5; Mark ii, xiv;
John !. 35-37; Rom. viii, l; xiii, 12-14;
Eph. iv. 1-3; Col. i, 9-17; 1 Thess. Ii,
ao-12; iv, /.