Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-02
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR HOUR
Conducted by Grace Livingston Hill utz.

| Conducted by Grace Livingston HillLutz.
For Sunday, September g. 1905
| Topic: THE Abundant Life How Get It? How
Use It?" (Consecration MeetingJ John XII 10;
| Romans v:1021.
| John XII. Then said Jesus unto them
| again, Verify, verify, 1 say unto you, am
| the door of the sheep.
| S. All that ever came before me are
| thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not
| hear them.
o. am the door; by me if any man enter
| In he shall be saved, and shall 20 in and
out. and find pasture.
TO- The thief cometh not but for to steal
| and to kill and to Destroy am come that
they might have life, and that they might
have it more abundantly.
Romans vic. For as by one mans dis
opedlence many were made sinners, so by
| the obedience of one shall many be made
righteous.
70 Moreover the law entered, that the
orense might abound. But where sin
apounded, grace did much more abound:
Il. That as sin hath reigned unto death,
even SO might grace reign through right
eousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ
our Lord.
The Lesson.
Life Is what we are all seeking after
more abundant life. Some have been seek
Ing it all summer at the seashore, some
upon the ocean, some staying at home
working hard. but still they have been
working for money wherewlth to make
more aboundant life for themselves and
those belonging to them. Some are striving
for 1t in the universities, some in society
some in the winters round of gaieties and
pleasures. some in one way, some In an
, other, but all on frantic search for more
abundant, immediate life.
We want life eternal, all of US after this
life is over, and no more can be hoped from
II. but we want an abundance of this life
we nave now ana we want 1t at once. We
do not want to walt for eternity to have
our longings satisfied And one reason
why so many have put off making their
eternal happiness sure Is that they fear to
thus make the present life narrow and
monotonous But Jesus says. II am come
that We might have life"-not a stale. con-
tracted existence-"and that we might have
1t more abundantly"
The table Jesus sets is never neaper
When He fed the five thousand there were
twelve baskets full left, although the ma
terials out of which He prepared it were
few and small He does not wish you to
do with the crumbs that fall from the table
| for the dogs, but will kill the fatted calf
| 1t was not to life OF slavery to which
the prodigal returned. although he thought
put TO be a servant in his fathers house.
but to live OF love and Joy. q gold ring
and feast, and the welcome Of friepds
And this does not mean alone a life here
after. 1t means now. Life at once, earthly
! life, abundant and free, the most toyous
man. That Is what Jesus meant we should
have. Now how can we get it? For it is
plteous fact that very few of Gods chill
dren are enjoying that abundant life in Its
fullness, and why ts it?
Mr.. F. B. Meyer says:
IF you are not living a royal life It may
be because you do not realize that the album
| dance Of Gods grace is for YOU You NAV
have an idea that there is some fayoritism
with God; that some people are born happy
| and that their religious life must be differ
| ent from others because their temperament
| and disposition are SO happy. There ia no
| favoritism with God. Just as the sprinp
| flowers, the sunshine and the pure air are
| free for all. as free to the beggar as to the
| sovereign. SO Gods abundant grace Is for
| every man and woman, and there is nothing
| that any one ever had which you NAV not
have If you will. The same stream is pass
Ing your door. but you do not utilize the
| power to drive your water wheel. Thesame
| electricity Is in the air. but you haven't
| learned to make 1t flash your messages or
make 1t do the work Of your home The
same grace that made Luther, Knox. a
I-atimer. a Ridley Havergal or a Spurgeon
| Is for you today. and If you are living a
| low-down life, beaten and thwarted. and
| dashed down and constantly compelled to
| admit shortcomings and failure, understand
| II Is not because there is any favoritism on
| Gods part, because all the Holy Ghost q
| power and everything which Is stored in
! Jesus Christ is waiting to make you q saint
| and to lift you to the level which you pine
| for In your best moments. All the power of
| the Almighty is waiting to help you: the
| same abundant grace Is waiting for us ali.
1t may be that we do not distinguish
| between praying and taking Some people
| are always telegraphing to heaven for God
| to send a cargo OF blessings to them, but
| they are not at the wharfside to unload the
vessel when 1t comes. How many of Gods
| richest blessings for which you have been
| praying for years have come right close to
| you. but you do not know how to lay hold
| of and use them. - You have onlv to
| go to God. and. supposing that you are in a
| right condition Ut may be that you are not).
| you may open your entire nature to God
| and believe that as you claim. God gives.
| He that asketh receiveth.' If you want
| Christ to be your purity, Christ to be your
| power. Christ to be your salvation kneel
| before Him; breathe In what God has prom
| Used to bestow; and reckon that as you open
| your nature to take God Almighty gives.
| And SO, while We are trying every way to
| find life. 1t is waiting for our taking In
1 Jesus There Is no other way to find life
save through Christ. To know Jesus, that
is to have fullness of life. For what is there
| in this world that is not ours IL we are
| Christs? Our sins need not trouble us, for
| they are nailed to the cross with Jesus. Our
| weaknesses need not hold US back, for in
| our weakness we may be stronger than we
| ever could have hoped to be by ourselves,
| because Christs strength Is ours, and Christ
| Is the only one who ever went through this
| life and conquered sin and weakness And
| We need never think we shall lose a great