The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1911-04-29
The Conditions
Of Discipleship
n REv. a. u rMnoHs
Nses< Nps~A>ur<ea <z~ss M~sAsaase
Css<sA hss~s>sN Tsx>s

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} Jesus Is a great teacher ana seeks
; 10 impsre unro his Followers funda-
mental truth. X IS OF utmost Inn
purtsnce that men have a correct con-
: ceptioh OF Jesus Christ himself Hence
J the question he asked the twelve IN
the beginning OF mis- chapter. Whom
90 men say that the son OF man,
am" What the world thinks OF him
Is important, but he had more per.
sonsl question 10 ask: Whom 90 we
say that am" Then Peter speaking
as the father gave him utteiance.
said "T'hou are Christ, the son OF the
living God" This is the basic fact OF
Christianfty. N
Notwithstanding Peter gave utter
ance 10 this great truth the master IN
short while administers 10 him The
sternest rebuke that he ever admin
istared 10 any follower OF his.
He then proceeds TO outline the con
ditions Of disctpleshin, II any man
VIII" The highest expressson Of re
lision is pot 10 he found IN reason
Our conclusions cannot be infsllibic.
( because they are the result OF train
\ Ing. and In some instances. condf
I tons. Yet we should cultivate this
I 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
ton. The emotions are productive Of
great good and much happiness. but
they cannot be depended upon as Anal
in religious expression.
But the highest expression of re-
ligion is to be found in the human
will. Christ Is not concerned about
who is able. for he has made 1t 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-thirds will and one
third intellect. The intellect is the
shell. the will Is the powder within
the shell that gives It its force and
power The feelings are the waves
tk-DEr O. from the eide Of a great
Ia1ss tie viii IA the rudder under
1ea1t, I-See1. Jet all important
F's:uas wf,1 are governed entirely
i,y 1i,tiir sussrtcra are Lard 20 handle
mt mike nssr Ct line uyI:1s e any
HJiirs's. q Brrst: cr5rDcrars saI frxw
q Iia-gs number 81 sn1rg rtzrs. Sr1
h b. titfiiuiih ~ Lssp 1hsm pn Lbs
-l-tfct. Il it NECESSARY iU lns church
~ pull & grsa. many snrjr-ies. b,r
tney ars noisy anf iuslaDis Religion
b. mo- the es,nIctiur % tins will. N,ter
We say ''.f'Ir Will W tiuia," IL toes not
mean tiie destruction, biit tiss develop
msti " on vii 10 tie yoin where Il
comedies with tile viii OF Coo. hugh
Prizes hughes mar given ar admirable
definition " sanesiffeatior. lie says:
II It q siprene desire not 10 want 70
nave ols owl way"
Let MIN deny himself" This means
vastly more than physical occidental
There h. uftep o species Of selfishness
IL sef-dsnial Men become recluses
when they could be useful
Ages ago certain classes Of men
AhSh4,hk lhts LOU 1OuhN lllt btcftt Oh
Q holy life. They shut themselves up
IN fnonaster1es 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 man
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 bis cross" This in
dicates a positive life. We are not
told to fall under the weight Of the
cross. but TO bear - 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. even
| though the action be not always com.
mendabIe, IL more honored than the
man who has the courage TO act at
all. Every persons cross is not the
same, but crosses there will be in
every life. Tis the power to bear the
cross and not to let the cross bear us
that determines the character Of our
discipleship.
And follow me-" Christianity II
, not a code OF laws. Rules cannot be
made for every future condition of
life. Instead Of It being obedience To
rules and regulations It IL life to be
lived full and glorious in accordance
with the will Of God. which IL revealed
unto us. II we are willing we shall
| know of the doctrine.
Except ye become as little children
, 70 shall in nowise enter the kingdom. .
The master does not mean for W TO
! become puerile and childish. II ever
|, strong men were needed to do the
! work that God wants done. that time
, n now.
What he wants IL that We shall have
the spirit of teachableness we And In
|. the child. The child realizing its lack
of knowledge seeks TO learn. We are
: to have the same spirit with reference
to religion. The spirit OF God win NOT
,, leave the willing mind In darkness.
Finally Christian character Il NOT
no much an attainment a. Il A. Z
growth. At the last Il win not Be
| IA