Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1906-10-06
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
beginning Oct. :.
BY REV. S. II. DOYLE


Topic.-chrlst's Life x The command
ments lie left us; our obedlence.-John
XIV. LII.
The fifteenth chapter OF John forms
a part Of the last address Of Christ to
His disciples. It followed the insti-
tuition Of the Lords supper and pre-
ceded His agony I'm Gethsemane and
His death upon the cross the next day.
1t was most fitting that at such time
Christ should, among other approprl-
ate subjects. remind them of their
close relationship 10 Him and speak
to them OF the things which He want
ed them TO do after He should leave
them. The parable Of the vine and
its branches was used to Illustrate the
relationship existing between Christ
and His disciples, and Immediately
following that He has considerable to
say about commandments and obedi-
ence to them. Let us ever bear IN
mind that these are the dying com
mands OF Christ and that this fact
should make it impossible for us to
disobey them.
The commandments Of Christ, as
left TO us here. are summed up In one
command-"Love one another" The
laws of Moses were extremely
lengthy, yet they were all summed up
In the Ten Commapdments. Thus the
commandments Of Christ are summed
up In but one commandment, and that
may even be limited to one word
love. Love includes all. The charac-
ter and the attributes Of God are
summed up In the expression "God Is
/ love" The man who will obey this
command Of Christ will find that he
must obey all other commands Of
Christ. If we love each other we
must do unto each other as we would
that we should be done by. We must
be honest and just and upright with
our fellow men II we love them as
Christ uses the word love. His own
love for US Is His standard Of our love
for others. love one another. as !
have loved you" And what was the
supreme characteristic Of Chrlst's lovej
1t was n self sacrificing love. He gave
His life for those He loved. The cross
is the Interpretation Of Christ's love
and he who loves his fellows with such
love will fulfill all the command.
ments Of Christ toward them.
Christ also has something TO say on
this occasion on the subject Of obedience
TO His commandments. a He gives q
promise for obedience. IF We keeT
Ny commandments, We shall abide in
My love-" If we want, therefore, &c
have an abiding place in the love OF
Christ we must keep His command
ments, and abiding in Christ carries
with it the promise Of power In prayer
IF ye abide in Me, and My words
abide in you, We shall ask what ye will
and it shall be done unto you" q
Christ declares obedience to be the ties
Of friendship with Him. "Ye are NJ,
friends, II We do whatsoever 1 com
mand you" The friendship Of Chris
e Is greatly to be desired. He is tn
! friend who "stlcketh closer than
l. brother" OF Him it has been written
/, One there IS above all others
Well deserves the name OF friend
HIS IS love beyond all others
Costly free and knows no end
. Do we want such friendship? The
= we must obey the commandments O
. Christ.
BIBLE READINGS.
Elk. Xxx, 1-1T; Eccl. xii, 10. Il; Mat
r v, 1913; vii, u; XIV, 31-46; Matt vi
n 81; John ii, 10; Acts Y, 20; I Pet.
1922; l John w. 7-21.