The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-12-26

throw his new ideal of servitude.
Why do it at ALP 1t was an appeal
to self-preserving instincts. 1t would
have been so easy to fall in with the
world and it's established order. The
homes of the great and the rich might
have opened TO him gloriously, and
what a career might not have been
his? He could have conformed to the
best types, and in Rome done as Rome
did, and what a monarch on what
throne he might have become! But
he would not have been a god!
Again he was tempted by Peter
against the sacrifice of himself. This
was the same old wilderness tempta-
ton in an intense form. Why destroy
tried to make him king. That all of
these suggestions We're not without
their influence upon him we see by the
sharp reprimand he gave Peter, the
bloody sweat of Gethsemane, and his
prayer. IF it be possible let this cup
pass from me-" and this is in keep
ing with the statement that me was
tempted in all points like as we are"
What Peter could not understand
was the afterglow of Calvary which
should make it the shrine of the
world. Jesus shrank from the sacri-
fee but he made it, and forever en-
nobled servitude, leaving us this and
other memorials of service of one an
other. as when he washed his dis
cipleS feet, the office of a servant, il
Illustrating the spirit he came to intro
duce, service in the little ~unremem-
bered acts as we'll as in the matters of
vast Importance. The attitude of con-
sideration for others, summed up in
the golden rule.
The Christ Spirit In the World is at
War With Human Nature.
preservation is the first law of
nature, but the first law of Christ is
service. These two are at war with
each other. 1t is natural that we
should wish to spend upon ourselves
! first and then the overplus upon our
neighbor' 1t is natural that we should
attend to our own wants first and
| then to the hungry about us. But
! the Christ like thing is to divide the
| crust at once; give a, coat to the
man who has none, and soothe the
| troubled one before we comfort our
| own hearts.
| It is delightful to the Christian to
! see this Christ spirit more and more
| prevalent. | think each Christmas it
! is more noticeable. In Pensacola il is
! very much in evidence. The telephone
! at the pastorium has been ringing for
/ some days. and individuals and socie-
! ties have been asking for lists of the
I
might be attended 10. This is a very
| benevolent town. The papers have
| given space to announcements. have
written editorials upon the spirit Of
| giving, and the society columns have
been bright with true Christina
| themes. This is very beautiful All
over the land this is true, and we are
| fast coming to where Christmas cheer
| will last all the year around
| The world can never be the SANS
| after Jesus has come into it. and men
| have been smitten with the lustre OF
| his golden ideal.
| Darkness has been diminishing ever
since. The Star in the East has con-
| tinued to shine. Great is Dina o.
| the Ephesians." was a cry of despair!
| The recent act of our city council If
granting lief to the barrooms to bt
| open till midnight before Christina:
| eve belongs to that era, But still
/ there are ways of pleasing
/ enough. The coarse degrading type
whose god is the body is not obsolete
! The more refined ways of self-indulg-
ence are in evidence on Christmas. I
used TO be that the eggnog was ar
established part of family dinners OF
Christmas, and many keep this I'D
but more have abandoned it. Many
will use the holy day for most unholy
debauchery. One of the most pathetic
touches to me this Christmas th'
fworld" shopping among the shopper