The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-12-30

| some of US might hear 10 our amaze
ment the voice of one who spoke as
/ never man spoke, saying: Come,
mus, abide at thy house today.
| Were we able TO bring Within our
range of vision the spiritual realities
/ that are right about us, I am sure
some of US here today would find our
/ selves gazing into the wistful eyes Of
/ Christ turned full upon US.
Not wistful because of His need but
of yours. Not the wistful eyes of a
defeated Christ but of a conquering
Christ. Not wistful with the anxious
suspicion that you are about to turn
away from Him, but wistful with a
yearning and expectant love that calls
you to rise up into possibilities that He
will surely help you reach. Some men
grow nightly in few minutes. Fac
cheus did. One moment he was a
grasping extortioner; the next the
typical philanthropist of a non-human-
itarian age. But that was not the
most significant change. He was a
busy man, with the power Of acquisi-
ton, and an ability to accomplish
things. This ability and power was
one moment all at work for self; the
next all at work for Christ. But that
was not the most significant change.
He was like a good many other men,
interested in his business, and giving
very little serious thought TO matters
admittedly of great concern to all men.
He was one moment Indifferent to the
supreme things of life; the next he was
speaking to his guest in the joy of
SaT
and Master.
That was certainly a day of great
results in Jericho long ago. It ought
to be duplicated. There are men and
women all about US in these modern
days whose moral worth makes only a
faint impression on u.s., There are
other things that impress US as of
greater Importance than this deep con-
viction of the Master that a man, any
man, every man, is OF greater value
than all else. i
The problem for us in all our insis-
tence on what men shall believe, and
on what men shall practise, is to keep
true to the Christ method. and to make
all our activities tributary to the SUI
preme effort to bring men into a dis
cove<y of self and OF Christ. For the
man who finds himself, and puts him.
self at the side of Christ, may have
what you and 1 might esteem an IL
logical, even a deficient belief, and yet
be a son of Abraham.
Indeed the way to Christian faith is
not that of debate nor of conformity to
other mems conviction but of genuine
response to the Masterhood of Christ |
To answer His call is the initial thing.
We may safely trust any mans future
who has heard and obeyed that call. |
It came to Zaccheus beyond all ques-
ton. 1t may not have been a sum- |
mons in words. The circumstances
seem to imply rather that it was made |
known to the soul of Zaccheus by the |
g1nuttered longing in the eyes of his /
guest. /
In the same way the wistful eyes of /
Christ behold us all, just as we are |
at heart. There is a true valuation in |
them of what is possible in each of us, |
and there is a ceaseless appeal in them /
for US to become what it is possible |
for us to be. But there Is a no less
intense soIicitude in those same visit
sul eyes that we should value what is
possible in every other man; and that |
we should hold ourselves to the most /
and patient, and prayer
Jul effort to keep that value to the |
'front.' as our foremost concern in home
Ind church and community.