Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-16
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR HOUR
Conducted by Grace Livingston Hill.
For April IL, 1904.

For April II, 1904.
Topic: How Christ Transforms Lives" Romans
12:1,2; Philippians, 320,21.
Romans Pill beseech you therefore
brethren, by the mercies of God that We
present your bodies a living sacrific, holy
acceptable unto God, which is your reason
able service.
2. And be not conformed to this world
but be We transformed by the renewing of
your mind, that ye may prove what is that
good and acceptable and perfect will of
God.
Philippians, 3:2O-For our conversation is
in heaven, from whence also We look for
the Saviour, tie Lord Jesus Christ.
p. Who shall change our vile body that
it may be fashioned like unto His glorious
body. according to the working whereby
He is able even to subdue all things unto
hin self
In order that Christ may transform life
1t must be first surrendered to Him. Some
people seem to think that when they have
believed in Christ that is CROUCH. They eX-
pect Him to trar sfoI m their lives and
wonder that He does rot. Sometimes they
doubt His power to do it because it is
not done, and do not realize that they have
not even asked Him to do it.
There must DE full surrender of self
to Christ before that Transformation can
be begun, a realization of its need and
desire for the change. 1t is the duty and
privilege of every Christian to bring him.
self living sacrifice to God
Now, after this has been done, what rea-
sonable being would think it right to take
that gift away and give it to the world for
six days out of every week for it to form
and conform as 1t chooses and then eX-
pect to turn out in the end a perfect like
ness of the Heavenly Father, transformed
into His image?" Yet that is what many
of US do We consecreate ourselves to
Jesus on the Sabbath and we think we
mean what we say, perhaps we do for the
comes. and with it the world with its
cares and its pleasures and we straightway
conform to the world. We do as they do
we go where they go, we enjoy what they
enjoy. Now, what can We hope except
that We shall in the end be transformed
into wording? How can We wonder if
people mistake us for that? Or why are we
astonished that some are surprised to find
we are church members?
Quite recently, in response to a call from
their mother country, the Japanese have
been seen in unusual numbers in our east
ern railway stations en- route to Japan.
They were unmistakable in their appear
arce, even the children turned to look and
said: There is a Japanese!' The country
to which they belong and to which they
are most loyal has left its stamp upon
them. No one would take them for Amer
leans or Germans or natives OF France
They are a peculiar people. There is
they keep their citizenship in the country
of their birth to large extent. Now,
when the call comes they lay aside their
work, whatever 1t is in this country, ana
hasten to obey.
The second scripture should read: For
our citizenship is in heaven" Those whose
citizenship is in heaven should never al
low themselves to become naturallzed TO
the world
There is some secret in the loyalty of all
citizens With some it is fear, with some
it is love- with some it Is honor OF their
king, or pride in the fame OF their iathers
With the citizens Of heaven the secret Is
From whence also we look for the Saw
our" Our hope that He shall change our
vile body that it may be fashioneo IKE
INTO His glorious pody." And the reason
of our hope? Because We know that he
'is able to, subdue all things unto him.
self"
day exchange this aching, uncontrolled frau
perishable body for one like COO s? why
is it that every mortal God mas mace ooes
not jump at the chance or peihg trans
formed into His image, and that the tenn
nIes of the living God are not thronged
with those who come humbly to present
their bodies living sacrifices that they may
be made over into the perfect VIII VI
Godv' o,,oo
II seems an utter impossibility to change
some people Ill,
"Oh, you never can do anything to help
that poor creature!' said woman the
other day, speaking of drunken man:
Nothing will ever stop him drinking. II
is of no use to try.
Vet when we read of Jerry MacCauley
and others like him whom Christ has trans
formed body and soul even while they were
upon this earth, we stand still in awe ana
wonder and acknowledge that it can be
done.
Yes If one can tell how the flower grows
into the fashion God set for 1t. The flower
looks up and the sun looks down, the flow
er lifts up the dew falls down, the flower
surrenders fully to the laws of its growth
ugly seed or bulb into fine greenness. then
into buds and finally into the glorious
bloom of the lily or the rose. Transformed
from death into life.
We all know the Transforming power OF
love. How will one change his life and
ways for the sake of the other who loves
hfnli Old tastes and prejudices. habits
and manners are easily laid aside Ii one
desires to please. Take a young girl who is
engaged to be married to the man whom
ready to obey his slightest wish. The de-
tails of her dress. the arrangement of her
very plans of action for her day, she ar
ranges to please him. II she learns that
q certain color is pleasant to him she forth
with finds q tendency in her heart to buy
things of that color In preference to any
other. The books he likes. the people he
knows the pictures and music he is fond OF,
all acquire a new interest for her despite
the fact that she may not have been fond of
them before she met him. Even the
thoughts of her heart she sets In order that
they may be such as would please him II
he should look in. And she finds this no
cross II she truly loves him. The young
meet hers whom he loves. 1t Is true he does
not always keep this up after he has made
sure OF her, nor does she. more is the pity
but in the nrst flush Of his love he makes