Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-05-28
CHRISTIAN ENOEAvOR
Prayer Meeting Topic For Week Be-
Qinninq June 1. 1918.


Topic.-The Ideal Christian--yI His
Bible Study.-Deut. vi, l-9. Conservation
meeting.) Edited by Rev. Sherman H.
Doyle, d. d.
The righteous man" of the Old Tes-
lament corresponds to the Christian of
the New. OF Him the psalmist says,
Ills delight is in the law of the Lord,
and in His law doth he mediate day
and night If the Old Testament
saint found delight in the Flaw of the
Lord" how much more should the
Christian of today rejoice in the Scrip
lures, since he has the gospel as well
as the Law! The Bible should indeed
be his joy and delight, and he should
study it prayerfully, Systematically
and intelligently.
The ideal Christian should study the
Bible because it is Gods word The
words which Moses commanded the
children OF Israel to lay up in their
hearts to teach to their children and to
make prominent in their daily lives
were not his words, but Gods words,
They were, he says, 1.-THE command
ments, the statutes and the judgments
which the Lord your God commanded
to teach you that We might do them"
The same is true of all the Scriptures.
'sHoly men of old spake as they were
moved by the Holy Ghost" If the
Lord is "eur God" we should certainly
study the revelation which He has
given to us.
The ideal Christian should study the
Bible because of the benetieent results
that follow such study. Bible study is
absolutely necessary to the Christians
life. 1t supports his spiritual life as
bread supports his physical life. 1t
guarantees freedom to him. eye shall
know the truth, and the truth shall
make you free" 1t makes wise unto
salvation" and the salvation of the
soul is the most important issue in hu-
man life. 1t brings him into touch
with the mind and win of God. with
out which it is impossible for him to
do Gods will. which is the chief end
of his existence.
1t instructs him as to the purpose of
life and points out to him how that
purpose is to be accomplished. IT Is
the guiding star of his life in this
world and shows him the way to
heaven 1t is the masterpiece of all
literature and is an inspiration TO the
mind as well as life to the soul. II
requires no argument to prove that a
book of such wonderful characteristics
and such boundless possibilities should
be the daily companion of the disciple
of Jesus Christ. who Himself is the
central figure of the Bible and whose
mission to earth 1t is especially or
dained to declare.
The ideal Christian should study the
Bible with the purpose in view Of prac-
ticing its precepts. The words Of the
Lord were given to His people through
Moses that they might do them"
Bible study is fruitless without prac
teal application to our daily lives. We
are not to be hearers of the word
only. but doors of IT," The test Of the
value of Bible study to us is in the
doing,
1t is che that heareth these sayings
of mine and doeth them" says Christ,
who is like the man who built his
house upon rock. Hearing without
doing is worthless. Study without ODE
dience only aggravates our offense.
The Bible study that counts is that
which is practiced in the daily life.
Are we making the Bible '.the lamp
to our feet and the guide TO our pathr'