The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-10-04

/ this knowledge, came to America; and
now. within the last century in par
ticular. 1t is reaching some Of the
many millions Of India, China, Japan.
Africa, ETC.. but still with the same
limitations. 1t appeals only to a COM
paratively few In any nation-"He that
hath an ear to hear. let him hear"
"Not of Yourselves"
All, yes. we can see a force In the
Apostles words. mot of yourselves"
| It Is indeed for ourselves to exercise
faith when the knowledge comes to us.
! yet faith being impossible without
knowledge. we were dependent upon
God for ii. How thankful we should
be. how appreciative! How sympa-
thetic we should be toward those who
have not been so highly favored with
knowledge or whose condition has been
less favorable to the cultivation of the
hearing ear and of the understanding
heart! Truly God is electing and Sc
lecting. testing and proving the mem
bers of the Church of Christ.
Another phase of the subject well
worthy OF our notice is that our faith
is largely matter of development;
| first the seed. then the blade, then the
ear. then the ripe corn. When God
gave us the first impulse toward a
knowledge Of Himself and Of His pur'
poses. that was the seed from which
faith might terminate if it fell into a
heart or mind that was good soil for
it. And even those whose hearts are
good soil for the Message Of Gods
| grace and the Kingdom invitation find
that they greatly need IA certain Di'
vine supervision, watch-care, in order
to bring forth ,fruitage such as the
Lord will be pleased to accept.
What would any of us be today
without the grace Of God assisting us
in faith and in obedience? Surely the
original faith would long since have
withered and died. We must still say,
By the grace Of God we are saved
through faith. not of ourselves. 1t is
the result of the knowledge granted and
the Divine blessing poured upon US. "a
& Growing In Grace. Etc.
In full line with what we have con
sidered Is the Apostolic injunction that
we must continue to grow in grace
and in knowledge and in faith and in
love, and to the extent of our ability
in obedience and good works. And
this growth in grace. this growth In
faith, signifies continued and further
growth In knowledge. For instance
the promises of the Bible contain the
spiritual food upon which we as New
Creatures must feed in order to grow
up to the required likeness of Christ
In order to be fitted and prepared in
character-and Acknowledgement for a
place in the Kingdom. ..>.. 81. 49,
It should not surprise us. therefore,
to find the Scriptures clearly teaching
that the Bible contains nOurishments
exactly adapted to our requirements.
St, Paul illustrates this matter by say
ing that In the beginning of our ex-
periences we. as new born babes,
should .'desire the sincere milk Of the
Word that we might grow thereby
grow in grace and In knowledge and
faith and obedience. But he .admon-
ishes US also that we should not al.
| ways continue to be babes. feeding
upon the milk Of the Word, but that
by the use of it and the strength that
Is derived we should become strong In
the Lord. become manly. attaining
mn hn cfo IF r,1anHnnSS n
members of the Body Of Christ. And
for this additional strength the Apos.
tie tells us that we need more than the
milk Of the Word-we need the "strong
meat" Of Gods Word. of Gods prom
ises. that we may grow thereby. And
again. In all this finding and using OF
the .'meat in due season" we are in
debted to God. s..-<... 1... =.
Not only has He provided meat in
due season in the Holy Scriptures,
chat the man of God may be thorough
ly furnished" and able to rightly di'
vide the Word of Truth" but addition
ally He has granted help amongst the
brethren. that we may build one an
other up in the faith. until we all come
to the full stature In Christ.
How evident then it is that our saliva
ton through faith is not matter Of an
instantaneous injection Of faith into
us In some miraculous manner, but a
gradual development. as we have seen;
and how evident it is that in the devel-
opment of this faith we are to be CO.
workers together with God!
Let US, therefore, be very apprecia.
tive Of the great privileges granted to
us and use them wisely. lest we should
receive the grace of God In vain and
miss this great Prize which has been
offered to us and which we have ac-
copied and which God will be faithful
to give to those who faithfully use the
blessings of His provision.