Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1912-02-15

live as Christ would have them live.
confessing how far short they have
come Of being what Christ wanted
them to be.
And the criticism OF the world. n
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. Mr.. Drummond spoke
truthfully when he said that what the
church nseds Is not more OF US, but
a better brand OF us.
There is a better way to live. here
is a Christian life possible to each
one Of US which is higher and hoIier
and more victorious than any expert
ence we have had hitherto. The per-
fection 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 crucified Christ We are
to receive from the risen Christ the
grace which We need to live a con
sistent Christian life.
May we o 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
n the appropriation OF Christi The
Christian church does not lack In ap
probation sermons. prayers. hymns
n testimonies swelling the praise OF
Jesus; but lack Of appropriation Is
shown in Indifference 20 the claims OF
Christ and the demands OF a holy
life. in spiritual unrest when Christ
has said. Peace I leave with you.-
n In frequent failure al the same
point in my life. These are evidences
Of our neglect to AXE Christ as the
complement OF our daily need. of our
neglect to clothe ourselves with
Christ. of our lack of appropriation
As oEe read the New Testament
three things are made clear:
/. Gods purpose. which is TO make
US Ike Jesus Christ. although he uses
various methods By which q end Is
attained. Sometimes the means used
do not seem pleasant to US, but when
we realize bis high purpose. we shall
be satisfied.
H. 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 and and
says. My grace is sum C for you
And we may count hin faithful who
promised.
Ill. An adequate power. When We
accept Christ by faith the holy spirit
comes into Us 10 perfect the purpose
OF God and to make the promise or
Christ actual In our Christian expert
ence. II is the realization of the pur-
pose. the faith In Christs 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 In
prayer. and OF usefulness In service,
does not consist In the smaiiness OF
Gods purpose nor the weakness OF
Cnrist'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 IL is a great
thing to know that Jesus Is a 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
be shall put OF the old man anc
shall put on the new.
What a blessing would come to the
Christian church and to the world
II Christians not only fully appreeiat-
ed Christ. but completely appropriated
him. II would effect a transforma-
ton In character and conduct. a
career. and In many OF US IL would
Ioake the impossible possible. Christ
stands just opposite our lives n
says. What wilt thou that | should
do ate thee+" and when he knows
the desires which possess us n
which struggle for expression he fur
Their says. ~Believest thou that | am
able to do this" and our life growth
and fruitfulness are dependent voon
our faith In him
Therefore. Just as by faith ASK
Christ TO be my savior let me nov
take him for my need OF humility
purity. strength. wisdom. sanctiica-
ton. righteousness. redemption--Au
| need In thee to find"
Grace there 10. my every debt to nav.
Blood 70 wash my every sin away:
Power TO keep me day by day:
For me. for me-"
Take Christ. appropriate MIN. en-
I - - Al