The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1911-04-20
The Conditions
of Discipleship
By REV. H. M. TIMM0NS
Pastor Washington Street Methodist
Church, Houston, Texas

]
| portance that men have a correct con
ceptlon of Jesus Christ himself. Hence
| the question he asked the twelve IN
the beginning Of this chapter, Whom
do men say that | the son of man
am?' What the world thinks of hin
Is important, but he had more per
| sonal question to ask: Whom do ye
say that am?" Then Peter speaking
as the father gave him utterance
said: Thou are Christ, the son Of the
living God" This is the basic fact OF
| Christianity
Notwithstanding Peter gave utter
ance to this great truth the master in
q short while administers to him the
sternest rebuke that ne ever admin
lstered to any follower OF his
He then proceeds to outline the con
ditions Of disclpleshlp, III any man
will" The highest expression OF re
ligIon is not to be found in reason
Our conclusions cannot be infallible
because they are the result OF train,
ing, and, In some instances, condi
| tions, Yet we should cultivate this
| faculty. The master never put a pre-.
MUM upon ignorance. He desires in.
telligent as well as faithful service.
Neither Is the highest expression OF
religion found in emotion, though this
is an important part Of our natures
Strong men sometimes disparage emo
tion. The emotions are productive OF
great good and much happiness, but
they cannot be depended upon as final
In religious expression.
But the highest expression OF re-
llgion is TO be found in the human
will. Christ is not concerned about
who is able for he has made II pos.
sible for every man to inherit eternal
life. But he is vastly concerned about
who will one has said that the nor,
NAL man is two-thlrds will and one.
third intellect The intellect Is the
shell. the will is the powder within
the shell that gives It It's force and
power The feelings are the waves
thrown off from the side of a great
ship; the will Is the rudder under
meath, unseen. yet all important
People who are governed entirely
by their emotions are hard TO handle
and make most of the trouble I'm any
sphere. A great locomotive can draw
a large number of empty cars, but
they make a great deal Of noise and
II is difficult to keep them on the
track It is necessary for the church
TO pull great many empties, but
they are noisy and unstable. Religion
is not the extinction Of the will. When
we say Thy will be DONE It does not
mean the destruction, but the develop.
ment of our will to the point where II
comedies with the will Of God Hugh
Price Hughes has given an admirable
definition of sanctifcation lie says.
1T is supreme desire not to want tc
have our own way"
Let him deny himself" This means
vastly more than physical self.denlal
There is often a species OF selflshness
In self.denial Men become recluses
when they could be useful
Ages ago certain classes of mer
thought they had found the secret OF
holy life They shut themselves ur
In monasteries at large They learned
what We learn today that the great
est temptations are not the ones that
come from without, but the ones that
come from within. The strong mar
fortifes himself against the enemy
that can be seen, then falls before the
one that steals upon him from within
his own life.
And take up his cross" This In
dicates a positive life We are not
told to fall under the weight OF the
cross. but to bear up under II, We
are not to be passive, inactive men
under difficulties but men of victory
Victory was never won except by az
gressiveness The man of action. ever
though the action be not always com
mendable, is more honored than the
man who has the courage to act al
all Every persons cross is not the
same. but crosses there will be in
every life Tis the power 10 bear the
cross and not to let the cross bear us
that determines the character of our
discipleship
"And follow me" Christianity is
not code of laws Rules cannot be
made ior every future condition OF
life. Instead of It being obedience tc
rules and regulations II is life to be
lived full and glorious in accordance
with the will of God, which is revealed
unto us. If we are willing we shall
know OF the doctrine.
Except ye become as little children
We shall In r, enter the kingdom
The maste OF mean FOR us tc
become put. childish. If ever
strong men N,.e needed to do the
work that God wants done, that time
is now
What he wants is that we shall have
the spirit of teachableness we find II
the child. The child realizing its lacl
of knowledge seeks to learn We are
to have the same spirit with reference
to religion. The spirit of God will NOT
leave the willing mind in darkness.
Finally Christian character is moi
SO much an attainment as It is
growth At the last It will not b,
Judged by its accomplishments. but by
the progress 1t has made
We should be proud to have a house
a.. -, 49,, ,,i,o,nd h.. q, e.......