Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-07-08
Fundamentals
VIW---GrOwth in Grace



knowledge Of our Lord Jesus Christ"
Peter S:1S.
To come to the study of a great theme
like this one needs to bring power that
comes from much prayer and medita-
ton. Sad it is to think that as Chris
ians we have in any way neglected
our great privilege of growth-to re
main small when we could be big is a
reflection on our Creator-to be little
man when God would have us big men
is TO thwart the purposes of our Mas
ter-not to grow is to become dwarfsh--
to be dwarf is to be a disappointment
The Lord has perfect right to expect
great things from us because he It
Is who has given no manifold opportuni-
ties. Where much is given, much is
required and 1t requires no seer or
prophet to tell that Of al people who
on earth do dwell. We are the most
highly favored Special objects Of Gods
love. we should because Of that be-
come special transmitters Of that love.
Regenerated and born again Of the
Holy Spirit we should daily work and
strive and grow until we come into the
perfect likeness of our great example,
even, Jesus the Savior. A few days ago
visited in home where a little child
was a cripple. Disease had preyed upon
it in childhood and years had passed but
no growth and development No prog
ress. Sad sight, but how like vast num-
bers of Christians who are the same
size to-day that they were when they
regenerated. There are a number of
things essential to growth. Let US un-
der the spirits guide examine into a few.
/. Life.
60 out into the forest and watch the
trees. Those that grow are those that
nave life. A dead tree cannot grow. Be
cause there is no life, no vitality there
No rich life TO pulsate their leaf and
trunk. No ability to enlarge. No signs
Of bud or leaf-just death But turn
your eyes to the fiourishing green tree
and the leaves and limbs and trunk are
throbbing and quivering. with life and
growth. Life forces growth. A healthy
child cannot but develop, muscle bone,
body. Progress is the keyword Of life.
| only a dead person fails to grow. Only
dead church remains at a standstill
live body is always athrob with vi
tally Life only comes as a free gift
from Christ. Death reigned until he
came, and broke the bonds asunder and
freed us from the tyranny Of faction.
Not at all strange is it that we have
nothing to do with our birth, on the
other hand perfectly natural to think
that we have everything to do with our
growth and progress after we have been
born. l am not responsible for the world
into which l came. l am very much
responsible for the world in which live
am not at all responsible for my size
at birth, l am totally responsible for
my present size. If you are alive let
people see 1t. Don't be afraid or asham-
ed of life. The boy moves, whistles,
plays. works. He is proud of his life
and manifests. So in like manner should
the Christian manifest his joy in the
more abundant life
2. Health.
To grow one must also be endowed
with health, to be healthy one must
avoid diseases; to avoid disease one
must not be exposed to contagion. The
man who is never exposed to measles
IS never liable to have measles. Some
one will say that a man never knows
now be Will act, or whether he is really
L man untn temptati ton comes and he
refuses to yield after that he has been
tried. Folly. The idea OF saying a man
must be exposed to smallpox and refuse
to catch the disease before one can
really know the effect the disease will
have upon him. Flee from evil. Shun
that which is wrong. Pray the Lords
prayer and earnestly stress the clause,
lead US not into temptation. Joseph was
lone courageous man. But he wasn't
bold enough to remain in the presence
Of his Masters wife and therefore he
fed. A case of a good man being much
better than bad stand. The man who
is strong and physically healthy doesn't
want to get sick just TO see how he will
feel and whether he is strong enough to
Withstand a spell Of sickness. So the
man who is a Christian needs to shun
evil and cling to that which is good.
Evil communications corrupt good man
ners. That old story in the book of
Nebster's old blueback speller still holds
true. Poor dog tray is exceedingly liza
BILE to fall into bad shape while walking
with bad company, to remain healthy
and grow and avoid getting disease,
3. Atmosphere.
Pure atmosphere is essential TO life
and growth. Some few weeks ago while
on a train going into St Louis we passed
through a tunnel and the smoke and
gases and impure atmosphere seemed to
be almost unbearable No one could