Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-13

we hunger for place more than for char
acter. These disciples wanted to be great
and prominent; the Lord wanted them
to be pure and good. They longed to be
they should be glad to be ministers.
working contentedly in an obscure place.
| They wanted to be the kings cup
bearers: he offers them to drink OF His
cup. They call for sovereignty; he asks
,, for sacrifice. They seek a life of get
ting; He demands a life of giving.
Through self-sacrifice we pass to our
throne
filled the other ten with Indignation be-
cause James and John were over-ambi-
tious to monopolize the glories Of tho
kingdom. While it may have been nat
ural for them to take offense at the two
who sought Office. their attitude was not
in accord with the teachings of the Mas
ter.
Much of the difficulties. discord and
difference in our church life today
grows out of the desire for office on the
part of a few. Jesus dispelled the re-
sentiment by drawing them to him so
that He could give them the standard of
service. If would draw near to our
Lord in prayer whenever We find IN our
hearts any murmuring spirit developing,
we will find that a little talk with Jesus
will remove the anger, ambition and
Jealous envy that disturbs the peace that
ought to dwell in our hearts and among
brethren.
Christian service is not to be perform.
ed In accordance with the standards or
men who consider that greatness con-
sists in position. place or power .ndl
enables one to lord it over all under MN
The work We are to do IN the WorId rs ~
be done in a spirit that is the reversa! OF
ALI human ideals. With us Jesus mas
given US a different standard OF great
ness when He said that "whosoever Will
be great among you. let HIM De your
minister And whatsoever Will De cniei
among YOU let him be your servant
In these words Jesus not only oignineo
labor but he gave us the secret OF ms
own power over men. Not once throuSh-
out the lesson did Christ condemn me
desire of Salome's sons to be ASSOCIATED
With Him in the ruling of HIS Kingdom
for according to His teachings that IL
to be the reward Of HIS followers WIZ
move their fitness to rule by serving
their fellowmen here: ,..,
"the service of man" forget too often
that the source of humanitarian aovanGe
ment is in the life of Him who toid His
disciples that even the Son OF Man canie
not To he m.nistered unto, but to minister.
and to give His life a ransom Tor many:
We are far from realizing that ideal IN
our private, public and philanthropic ei-
fort but the Inspiration that moved early
Christianity under the aposeies oIeoeo'
and has influenced all subsequent ages
heine the controlling factor OF our Mexi-
can policy as a people, is the desire to be
Of service, that We received from IlIe
lessons Jesus taught His disciples as he
went up to Jerusalem to make HIS NE
ransom for the race.
The ideal of Jesus. which Will some Gay
be realized is being deferred. largely BY
the men and nations who are placing
their conception of personal rights ana
privileges above that of their duty to seek
first the kingdom of God and His right
eousness by life Of service. For as one
has well said within the circle of the
kingdom Of heaven the Hottest is the
lowliest, and the lowliest the loftiest. He
who stoops down to minister, steps up
as he stoops down. He steps UP by STEP
ping down.
TT is much nobler to do good than TO
get good. It is much more glorious to
glorffy than to be glortfied. To be service
able Is far greater glory. In the mora
sphere Of things, than to be served lie.
therefore. who is most serviceable is IN
the sublimest position. Let US as the
followers of Christ Jesus have the one
purpose and principle that marked HIS
life by having at all times as did he the
spirit OF service. Let us in all our work
follow the example of the Master of our
service who came not to be ulinistered
unto but TO minister" All who would
achieve greatness must follow the patch
way of service which He has placed b.
fore us In ur lesson this week.