Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1912-02-16


cere purpose 10
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 ChlSst 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 mans
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 tc
an open shame Mr.. Drummond spoke
truthfully when he said that what the
church needs is not more OF US. but
a 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 thar 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 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 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-
probation sermons. prayers. hymns
and testimonies swelling the praise OF
Jesus; but lack OF appropriation is
shown in indifference to the claims or
Christ and the demands OF a 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 US. but when
we realize his high purpose, we shall
be satisfied.
II. Christ's promise. AS we begin
to understand Gods purpose we ask
who is sufficient for these things: but
in the presence OF every highs 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.
H. 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 or
Christ actual in our Christian expert
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 faitE
which is the perfection OF Christian
character. SO our lack of deeper
Christian experience, Of power Ia
prayer, and of usefulness 10 service.
does not consist In the smailness OF
Gods purpose nor the weakness OF
Christ's promise. nor the back 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 tho
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 ana
shall put on the new.
Therefore, just as by 2aith | ask
Christ to be my savior let me now
take him for my need OF humility,
purity. strength, wisdom, sanctifica-
ton. righteousness. redemption AID
| need in thee to ind"
Grace there is. my every debt to paw.
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 az.
preparation OF your great inheritancs
in Christ Jesus. It il tho secret OF
$500. .rintnrfnl1s Christ-lilra liza