Evening journal., 1910-01-12

Christ is very likely TO grow dim II we
don't let tho world get the benefit of IT,
Nothing can stand absolutely still. We
must either 20 forward or backward. and
It is in this line that growth is wanted.
You never saw a Christian who did moth
ing for His Master that ever stayed a
Christian very long. 1t is this very want
of activity and prayer that makes so
many back-sliders.
We must be sure that we are rejecting
the proper kind Of light A lighthouse
that deceives mariners Is worse than use
less, and a Christian who does not shed
the true light Of Christ is a menace to
the church. 1 once heard profession
Christian say Let good business man
take hold OF a church and the religious
side will not be necessary" This mans
highest idea was wealth. and he only be-
longed to the church because 1t pronted
him materially. Surely Christ does not
need this kind OF support for His Bride.
If He takes care of the sparrows He must
be able to care for the church. The pro-
fession Christian who throws false
light out about the church does a great
]
We should not let encouragement hide
our candles. Elijah became discouraged
when he had no work to do and was by
himself we should profit by his example
and get busy right away. When you fail
/ I'm something for Christ. why remember
that Christ meant that for a lesson so
that you would be better prepared the
next time and look back on your failure
and see what mistakes you have made so
that you won't make them again. Tell
Christ all about It and lie will point out
very clearly why you failed and how TO
overcome the obstacles that are in your
way. Do not let the bushel OF discourage
ment hide your candle.
We need a few things as fuel, etc. in
our lights which are absolutely indispen-
sable If they are really to shine. First we
must have the oil Of prayer. Without this
our lights must soon become dim and
slowly 20 out. In nearly every instance
of a backslider you will find the trouble
started when he or she thought they
wouldn't get on their knees that night to
pray, but they would do it tomorrow. 1t
has small beginning and is hardly per-
and the results are disasterous. And don't
be sparing with your oil. There is no
danger of it overhowing and the more you
use the brighter the light will be- The
quality must also be watched. II the oil
comes out Of sincere heart the quality
is of the best and the light will be very
bright Next we must have Jesus Christ
for the bowl Of our lamp into which we
pour the oil and on which the light stands.
He is a most sure foundation upon which
10 build. and without the bowl the lamp
cannot be used so without Jesus Christ
our lives are blank. If you think it is you
yourself that is doing the good things
that are being done, you are badly mis-
taken for it is Jesus Christ acting through
you. He is most sure receptacle for our
prayer also. Next we come to the wick of
our lamp. This is the Christian himself.
It is through His agents here on earth
that Christ transacts His business. and
it is on account Of the wick Of the lamp
that the light can shine. We are merely
the agents, just as the wick IS in the
lamp BE sure to keep your wicks clean
and well trimmed, and the light will be
much better. Christ relies on us to attend
to His business. and IL we fail Him there
won't be a very good report 10 show on
accounting day Last Of all NE come TO
the shade of Gods word that tempers the
light that shines out. The better the quail
ity Of shade. we have on our lamp the
more effective our lamp viii be- The bet
ter we are acquainted with the Bible the
more results our lives and work will bring
forth. We must know the messages Of sal
walton that Christ has ordained written
in order that we may prove our claim to
our brother.
With this lamp made up OF the bowl of
Christ. the oil Of prayer. the wick Of the
Christian and the shade Of the Bible, our
light will shine forth very brightly, just
as Christ wants It TO. If all Christian En-
deavorers I'm this town were part OF
lamp like this, and always kept the lamp
in good trim. then Christian Endeavor
would be the brightest kind of a city set
on hill.
We must guard against all kinds Of
bushels that will hide this light. They
come on us unawares and completely hide
our light before we know it.
My brother. does thy light shine out
Across the night of sin,
To cheer some sailor homeward bound
or guide some wanderer in?
Dear Jesus. we ask Thee to make our
lives shine forth for Thee. We ask that
every action shall SAVIOR of Thee and that
we will be monuments to Thee. We pray
that we shall always have the courage OF
our convictions. and that we shall never
do anything that we would be ashamed
for Thee to see us do. This We ask in
Jesus Name. Amen.
February is Christian Endeavor Day
and nearly all the societies viii have spe-
cial services. Some Of the societies viii
have charge of the evening church SER
vice. while others will simply have special
services Of their own.
The Wilmington c. Z. Union met Tues
day evening, January 1lth in Saint
Paurs NJ. L. Church. Much business Of