Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-29
Gptportb geague
Topic
REV. SAMUEL w. GRAFFLIN.
can Upward Way"

| An Upward Way"
Scripture Basis: II Peter, 1:5.s: Hebrews. Gil.
~ UR thought Cor the month of July
| Wy has been ''OU- Help n the Lord, B."
ard most &C the Scripture refer
ences have bean given to show the value
of adverse circumstances, when used as
stepping stones to patience, persistence
and virtue, God being OF. helper Our
pouls have grown strong during the
month, as we have come TO realize the
power of Gods sustaining grace in trial
or loss We have come to see that The
abundance of mans life consistent not
in the things which he possesseth,'' but
in the worthy character which he devel-
ops out of his life current, be it pleas
ant or otherwise. Not what touches us,
/ but what makes us better, is the thing
worth while.
TWO Scriptures lie before US The first,
IL Peter los, might safely be called
| Ihe great problem in addition; for we
are admonished to add. and then to add
asain' 70 those spiritual graces which
We may have acquired through faith in
and obedience to the promises and pre-
cepts of ''Our Lord and Savior Jesus
! Christ
The IL Hebrews, 81. points. the way to
! perfection, by calling us away from the
earlier lessons of our Christian expe-
rience, to go on toward that goal which
must ever lie before the follower of
Jesus Christ, namely, the Perfect love"
| that "Casteth out fear and which leads
us onward and upward Toward the goal.
unto the prize of the high calling of God
| in Christ Jesus"
Out of the top'c and these texts arise
three thoughts. First The upward tend
ency of all true spiritual life. One of the
worlds great naturalists has said that
| The tendency of all life is outward and
upward" and this is s!ngularly true Of
the spiritual life: OF little value to God
or man Is the Christian whose life does
not rise in value, power and usefulness.
OF such Mr.. Moody said: They are like
Wasps, biggest when born" and who does
not remember the time-worn classic of
| our school days:
Heaven is not reached at a single bound;
We build the ladder by which rise
From the lowly earth to the vaulted skies.
And mount to its summit round by round.'
All life that is born of God tends toward
God. growing more like Him, day by
day.
The second thought in these Scriptures
is: The Christian ideal. 1t was Carl
Schurz who said. ideals are like stars;
not to be reached, but to guide. the mari
ner upon the sea Of life, to the best pos
sible earthly harbor." Thus the Christian
ideal is Christ; the Christian ambition
to be like Him. With Him before us and
the imitation of Him as our great objec-
tive, each day will see us more like Him.
Third. there is the call to press on to
perfection.' Perfection in the Christian
life is not an attainment, but a goal
Were it an attainment, we would not be
told to Grow in grace and in the knowl-
edge of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ" We would not hear Peter telling
us to add to our faith virtue, ''and SO on,
until he places the capstone, not on God
Illness, but where Jesus placed it; namely.
on Charity or love-" Perfection as Paul
used it meant "fullgrown," not born
large. Thus the perfection toward which
we grow consists in perfect love, for
God, for Christ and for our fellow man,
and in this We may continue, through
time and eternity.
* 4 X
Notes.
Several of the local leaguers will par
ticipate on the program for Epworth
League day at Emory Grove, just outside
of Baltimore. August 10. Rev. Edgar
Cordell Powers Of Brookland will have
charge of the II o'clock service, while Mr.
Louis p. Hieston will hold a Model Ep-
worth League" SERVE at 6:45 pm.
x !. !: x
Mr.. and Mrs. H. S. Omohundro are TAX
ing a short vacation trip to Solomons.
Md. Mr.. Omohundro as president of the
Baltimore conference Of the league is
enthusiastic as to the success of the Ep-
worth League day to be observed at
Washington Grove August s.