Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1912-03-05

sSsasG sSSsssaasGs x 1sataa&E9s day with sln-
 cere purpose to live as Christ would have them live. but who come to the close of the day confessing how far short they have come of being what Christ wanted them to be.
 And the criticism of the world, and the curse Of the church is, that in those of us who have named the name of Christ practice comes so far short of confession, and that many of us who make pious professions by the very negligence of our living cruelty the Son of God afresh and put him to an open shame. MT. Drummond spoke truthtully when he. said that what the church needs is not more of us. but better brand of us.
 There is better way to live. There is Christian life possible to each one of us which is higher, and holier and more victorious than any experi- ence we have had hitherto. The per- lection of Christian character is the perfection of faith in Jesus Christ the faith that takes him to be all and in all. Just as by a simple act of faith we received the gift of saliva ton from the crucitied Christ We are to receive from the risen Christ the grace which we need to live a con sistent Christian life.
 May we not explain our failure to become what we hoped to be, and what Christ wants us to be. because we do not understand the difference between the appreciation of Christ and the appropriation of Christ? The Christian church does not lack in ap- preciation sermons. prayers, hymns and testimonies swelling the praise of Jesus; but lack of appropriation Is shown in indifference to the claims of Christ and the demands of holy life, in spiritual unrest when Christ has said, Peace leave with you. and in frequent failure at the same point in my life. These are evidences of our neglect to take Christ as the complement of our daily need, of our neglect to clothe ourselves with Christ, of our lack of appropriation.
 As one read the New Testament three things are made clear:
 l. Gods purpose, which ss to mako us like Jesus Christ, aIthofgh ho uses various methods hy which this end ir attained. Sometimes tho neans qsod do not seem pleasant to Us, but whan wo realize his high purpose, we shah be sati3fied.
 U. Chrtet's promise. As VIC begin to understand Code rurpose VIC ask who Is sufficient for theee things; but in tho prascnce of every high call Of Cod, of every holy purpose, of every unattained Ideal, Christ stands ana says, My grace IS sufficient for you And we may count him faithful whc promised.
 III. An adequate power. When we accept Christ by faith the holy spirit comes into us to perfect the purpose of God and to make the promise ot Christ actual in our Christian experi' ence. It is the realization of the pur 'pose, the faith in Christ's promise and surrender to the spirit that con ,stitute the elements of that faith which Is the perfection of Christian character. So our lack of deeper Christian experience. of power 1T prayer, and of usefulness in service does not consist in the smallness oi Gods purpose nor the weakness ol Christ's promise. nor the lack of, ar adequate power--our failure Is be cause. We do not appropriate all ol God there fig for us in Christ Jesus.
 We are reminded of Martin Luther who said that the entire secret of the Christian life lies in the use of tho ippssessive pronouns; that 1t Is grea thing ito know that Jesus is Savior but a far greater thing to know tha he is my Savior. In fact, the entire philosophy of the New Testamen with relation tc the Christian is tha he shall put off the old man ant shall put on the new.
 Therefore, just as by faith l asl Christ to be my savior let me nov take him for my need of humility purity, strength, wisdom. sanctifica tion. righteousness, redemption-"Al I need in thee to find."
 l"Grace there is.l my every debt to pay Blood to wash my every sin away;
 Power to keep me day by day:
 For me. for me-"
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 Take Christ. appropriate him. CT ter upon the full possession and ar propriation of your great inheritanc in Christ Jesus. It Is the secret Of happy. victorious. Christ-like life.