Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-02-05
CHRISTIAN ENOEAVOR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For Week Be-
uinnino Feb Q. 1913

Prayer Meeting TOPIC FOR week pe-
ginning Feb. 9, 1918.
Topic.-The ideal Christian.-H His
xeaI--II Cor vi. lilo. (Consecration meet
ing, Edited by Rev. Sherman H. Doyle,
d. D.
Christianity demands zeal in its ad-
herents 1t calls upon US for the full
surrender of ourselves to Christ and
the conservation of all our abilities
and powers to His service. 1t is
therefore only by being Jealous that
we can perform the duties and obliga-
tions that rest upon US as Christians.
Nothing less than a passionate ardor
in tie service of Christ will make us
ideal Christians. But while the de-
mands made upon MS by Christianity
are great they are entirely reasonable.
Christ is worthy Of our most devoted
service. Zeal can be manifested in no
cause 20 worthy as Christianity. Men
have been jealous in patriotism. in
seeking wealth, In pursuing pleasure,
In attaining knowledge. But does even
tine DeSl Oh tucSC SOAhPaAS 49, 'ofuS ~
the service Of God and humanity in
the way and for the purpose that Is
involved in the service Of Christ? In
Christian service eternal as well as
temporal interests are involved. spir-
itual as well as neutral and physical.
and what cause can so reasonably de-
mand the utmost zeal as that In which
the eternal destiny of human souls Is
involved?
Christ Is the ideal of all Christians.
In Himself and in His life He exem-
plified all that He expects His follow
ers to be and to do In zeal, as in
other things, He is our example. He
kept before Him the fact that the
night cometh when no man can work.
and therefore He worked the works
of Him that sent Him while 1t was
day. Zeal In the service Of God and
of humanity consumed Him. He was
so passionate in fulfilling His mission
that 1t was said of Him, He is beside
Himself" The world has frequently
charged Him with being a favorite.
The great Christian leaders In all the
centuries have been like Christ In this
as In other respects. They have had
passion for souls that has inspired
them to endure all things for Christs
sake and in His name. The long roll
Of Christian martyrs and of those who
have hazarded their lives for Christ's
sake bears ample testimony to the zeal
of Christ's followers. They are the
worlds ideal Christians. and to be
like Him and them we also must be
filed with holy passion in the serv-
ice of our Lord and Master.
Zeal should be manifested in every
phase Of our Christian life. Like the
Corinthians. we should be Jealous of
spiritual gifts aiming to excel in the
virtues and graees that come through
the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
We should also be Jealous of good
works" as becomes those who are in
the service of the king of Kings and
lord of Lords. But above all we
should have a zeal. passion, for souls.
Soul winning is our supreme mission
In the world as Christians. 1t is not
enough that we busy ourselves with
the temporal affairs Of the church;
that we do all we can to feed the hun
CRY and clothe the destitute. These
things should not be left undone. but
they are no substitute for our greatest
work-the leading of souls to Jesus.
Christians must avoid certain kinds
Of zeal-zeal without tact, mistaken
zeal and zeal without knowledge. Tact
less zeal often does incalculable harm
False zeal leads to many costly blum
ders. The Jews. having zeal for God
without knowledge. crucified the Son
Of God. Let us cultivate more and
more true Christian zeal, a passion
in the proper service of Christ that
will produce results and that will 10.
spire others to follow our example. for
few things are more contagious than
Eoal