The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1912-02-23

out 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
che Son of God afresh and put him to
an open shame. Mr.. Drummond spoke
truthfully when he said that what the
church needs Is not more OF us, but
better brand of US.
There Is a better way to live. There
Is a Christian life possible to eaeh
one of US which Is higher and hol1er
and more victorious than any expert
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 simple acl q
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 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 APP
probation sermons, prayers, hymns
and testimonies swelling the praise or
Jesus; but lack q 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:
|. Gods purpose, which is to make
us like Jesus Christ, although he uses
various methods by which this end is
attained. Sometimes the means used
do not seem pleasant to Is, but when
we realize his high purpose, We shall
be satisfied
III. Christ's promise. AS We begin
to understand Gods purpose We ask
who is sufficient for these things: but
in the presence Of every high call OF
God. of every holy purpose, OF every
unattained ideal, Christ stands and
says. MY grace Is sufficient for you"
And we may count him faithful who
promised.
Ill. 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 OF
Christ actual in our Christian expert
epce. 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. Nof power IN
prayer, and of usefulness in service.
does not consist in the smallness OF
Gods purpose nor the weakness OF
Christ's promise, nor the lack OF an
adequate power-our failure Is be-
cause we do not appropriate all OF
God there is 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 the
possessive pronouns; that 1t is great
thing to know that Jesus Is Savior.
but a far greater thing to know that
he is my Savior. In fact. the entire
philosophy of the New Testament
with relation to the Christian Is that
he shall put off the old man and
shall put on the new.
What a blessing would come to the
Christian church and to the world
IL Christians not only fully appreciat-
ed Christ, but completely appropriated
him. It would effect a transforms
ton In character and conduct, and
career, and in many of us 1t would
make the impossible possible. Christ
stands just opposite our lives and
says. What wilt thou that l should
do unto thee?" and when he knows
the desires which possess us and
which struggle for expression he fur
Their says, "Believest thou that l am
able to do this?" and our life growth
and fruitfulness are dependent upon
our faith in him.
Therefore, just as by faith | ask
Christ to be my savior let me now
take him for my need OF humility.
purity, strength. wisdom. sanctitica-
ton, righteousness, redemption-"Atl
I need In thee to find"
Grace there is. my every debt to pay:
Blood to wash my every sin away:
Power to keep me day by day;
For me, for me.
Take Christ, appropriate him. en-
ter upon the full possession and ap-
preparation of your great inheritance
in Christ Jesus. 1t is the secret OF
happy. victorious. Christ-like life.
It is a difficult task that confronts
the city of Boston. 1t iB a dangerous
task for we have our ert mics on the
right and on the left. 1t is the bust
ness of the city officials to consider
the social welfare of the people, as
we'll as their economic welfare The
economic interests of the city of Bos-
ton are not the only wealth we have
Rev. A. T. Conrad, Igregational.
list, Boston.
Some people are ALWAYS praying for
tho Lord IN nse them. who ought to