Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-02

self thinks he. has liberty of action and
is free to do as he pleases. He is in
reality in the thrall of bondage. which
is ever becoming more CALLING, while it is
only in the service of God that perfect
freedom is found.
1t is not, however. my intention to con-
slider now which service is perfect free
dom. but rather to consider what the
denial of self in the service Of Christ
really is.
1t must, of course, mean the denial Of
self of all sin. sinful pleasures. sinful
pursuits, sinful occupations. The bless
ing of God can never rest upon us while
we are nurturing sin.
Have you any secret sins? Any pet SINS
which you have long cherished? You
must put them from you when you come
to Christ. All, when you try to do that
you will find out whether you were really
free in serving self. whether you were
not really tiled and bound with the chain
of your SINS
But surely the denial of self means more
than the denial of positive sin, for every
one acknowledges that sin Is wrong
against God and his own life, even though
he be not a follower of Christ. The
gambler knows, and none better, that it
is wrong to gamble-he does it in spite Of
the knowledge. The libertine knows that
his sensuality is destroying both body and
soul. but he clings to his evil ways. The
dishonest and dishonorable business man
or merchant knows he is dishonest, but
his desire for money overcomes his
scruples. Surely then the denial Of self
means more than the denial which the
clean. honest man should make in any
event.
Yes, it means the denial to self of things
which in themselves may be proper and
good and pleasant, but which If chung to
may be weights to hinder us in our race.
But the denial of self means even more
than this. 1t means the cultivation of a
spirit of unseldshness and self-sacriace
Consider Christs denial of himself 1t
was not denial of sin, for there could
be no sin in the holiness Of God. 1t was not
the mere denial of the inexpedient. refus-
ing to do lawful things for others bene-
fit No. his denial was pure unselfshness
and self-sacriice for the good of others
He humbled himself that he might exaIt
us to God.
But Christ said that the one who comes
to Him must take up his cross. One of
the modern masters has given to us a
picture of the carpenters house at Naz-
areth. when 1t is toward evening and the
day is far spent. The weary carpenter,
standing stretching himself in the door,
way, casts shadow across the poor room,
and woman kneeling there recognizes
the ominous outlines of the cross. Yes,
the shadow of the cross lay all along his
life. He carried bravely the burden Of
poverty. disappointment, misunderstand-
ing and suffering, and at last was literally
crucified upon the cross. Each man and
woman who comes to Christ has a cross
to BEAR which, as disciple, Jesus asks
him to take up with each new day and
bear it bravely. patiently. lovingly.
And so, having denied ourselves having
shouldered our cross. we are to follow
sense, 1t Is. for he asks our all, but in
comparison with the thing obtained it is
little enough. Price must always be a
relative thing. We consider the value of
the thing as well as the price to be paid
A hundred dollars would be an enormous
price for a bushel of wheat, but an alb
a man has is a big price to pay for a
little bodily pleasure. But it is very little
for eternal life. And yet, you say the
price is great-the denial of self. the car
rying the cross. the following Christ!
True-but what shall it profit man to
gain the whole world and lose his own
soul? Suppose you refuse to pay the
price, what then? Can you retain the
things you love?
He that saveth his life shall lose it. and
he that loseth his life for My sake shall
find it. There is another paradox in scrip
ture which is not less true. 1t is when
Jesus said: Come unto Me, all We that
labor and are heavy laden, and will give
you rest: take My yoke upon you and
learn of Me-. for My yoke is easy and My
burden is light"
You have been thinking how hard are
the conditions Of discfpleship. They are
and yet they are not--for It is only as we
come to Christ that we can be emanci-
pated from the bondage OF our SINS and
1t Is only in His service that we can know
perfect freedom.