Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-02
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REV. SAMUEL w. GRAEFLIN.

EeCer, :C-4.
- HE thought for the month Of De-
III. cember is "A Glorious Destiny"
It Is Impossible to think Of a des-
tiny without Immediately asking the vital
question as to the goal Of the destiny
the thing which we are striving to obtain
or initiate. The builder standing before
his plans, the artist before his model: the
musician seeking to reproduce. for others.
the Intangible harmony Of his soul; the
Christian striving to initiate the life and
conduct of his Lord, are one in purpose,
in that each is seeking to reproduce the
model or pattern which is set before him.
However poor; the copy, 1t is the pattern
that determines the type Of work turned
out by artist, artisan or toiler in the
vineyard Of the Lord. Hence in our study
Of the thought for the month and it's SUBJ
topics -we mist remember that. although
We may deal with the subject in terms Of
personal effort or Christian enterprise.
everythings depends upon our fidelity to
the pattern set before US in the life of
the Master. From the Scripture and the
topic we draw three thoughts
1. A View of the Paternity
far the largest number of failures in So
cial, business or religious life are due
to one single cause-namely, failure to
get clear view Of all the requirements
of such life before undertaking its great
tasks. Counting the COST is one Of the
first great requirements of success, and
a clear view of Jesus Christ and Chris
tianity, with the glorious possibility of
becoming like Him In" our sacrifice and
service. will do more to clear the way for
our spiritual feet than any other single
thing. Jesus said: ..'And I, II be lifted
up, will draw all men unto me- He
knew, with divine knowledge, how great
would be the attraction of His life and
death. :
We have so often confused our observa-
tons of church enterprise with our vision
of. the Great Head of the Church that
We; have lost, sight OF Him. To see Him,
as our great life model; to feel the thrill
of attempting to mod our earthborn ma
lures in imitation of His glorious charac-
ter: to realize that under the spell of the
Model our poor lives are becoming daily
more like His-this is life's greatest priyi-
lege.
II. Spiritual Growth.--If there is one
thing on earth more pitiful than to see
the forward or "mannish'' child. it is to
see the backward OF childish adult; and
this is nowhere more sad than in the
Christian life. Babes in Christ we may
indeed be at the hour Of our spiritual
birth, apprenticeship is a necessary STEP
ping stone to perfect skill. but grow we
must, If we are to attain to the high priv
ilege of being craftsmen for Christ. AS
Ne Il and le4 0re. i'm, Or walk beside him /,
as we strive to speak to others the words
He spake. or do for them and Him the
deeds He would have done. there comes
into our souls a seLse Of grow and
power, consciousness of likeness to our
Lord that makes such life and service
we'll worth while.
III. Becoming Like the Master.-We
speak OF artists as being ''of such a
school," of students as having sat under
this teacher or that or great craftsmen
as being from a certain shop. With the
Christian, no matter how much Of ethical
grasp he may have acquired. no matter
how great skill In solving the various
social problems, or fostering the great
philanthropies. nothing is much worth
while unless he bear. in actions. words
and works, the evidence OF having learned
ia r hotv AL fron iitTn who can aioae
impart to those who learn of Him at
once His nature and His skill.
Craftsmen OF Christ we are. and having
chosen Him as Master and Model for our
life and work, 1t Is our task 10 daily
measure up. as largely as we may, that
those who long to know the way Of life
may see .in..us the product of His grace,
at once the frlitage and the witness OF
His power.