Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-01-08

my mind and heart for the work and
need of the year. One day l was In
the office of a Christian business man
and when he told me Of his up-and-
down experiences and his fear Of fall
ure I gave him this verse and asked
him to put 1t on his desk. Before b
day was over l was engaging in per-
sonal work in an evangelistic meeting
and to a man who said he was afraid
to confess Christ for fear he could NOT
hold out, / said, Take Philippians LIS,
and count on God holding out. He
made the venture on faith, and hndS
Christ meeting every need with SUN.
cient grace.
How Can ! Get Through
How many Christians are fearful
and doubtful about the continuance
and completion of that new life which
began in them when they took Christ
as their Savior. To them the Christian
life is not only difficult, it is a daily
struggle, and a daily fear Of collapse
and defeat They began well, but
something has hindered them, or they
stand in dread of some spiritual CO
lamity. Service for Christ is irksomG
Prayer has little meaning and less
blessing or power. The Bible is neg
lected or forgotten. Joy has fed from
the soul, and gladness from the life.
Some days are bright and others
gloomy. Some days are happy. but on
others you wonder whether God is stfl
alive. You begin to question the real
ity Of your conversion, you wonder
how you will eve get through, and
you despair of winning heaven at last.
Remember the assurance Of the text.
1t takes two to live the Christian life
Christ and the believer; and every dag
you may have all of him you need
Always remember that the Christian
life is not a matter of attainment, but
obtainment-take 1t from Christ. This
is a truth that needs to be magnified.
When God moves into the heart Of q
man, and a man yields up his life to
the instruction and guidance of God,
God win take him through. There may
be Experimentation when every
thing goes wrong; there may be temp
tations days when the devil presents
the strongest and most alluring ap-
peals to eye-gate or ear-gate or to
other n of the life, seeking to
get your consent to some enticement
and to bring you into subsection to the
powers of darkness; there will be days
of sorrow-days when friends fail you.
when loved one leave you, when you
look into an open grace and reach out
after help; there will be days when
you doubt-when you think your
Christian life is a thing Of no conse-
quence to yourself and no contribution
to the cause of Christ or the coming
of his ~kingdom.s But-and be sure of
this-God will see that he wins In the
end. This is his will; this is what he
loves to do; this is what he has begun
in you: and nothing is too hard for
him-he will perfect it. Always he
is working to perfect in us the very
image of Jesus Christ.
1t is a work of liberation, of emanci-
patton. and Of transformation. The re-
demptive work of Christ is followed
by the sanctifying and clarifying work
of the Holy Spirit. Our entire being
is subject to the process. It reaches
our minds, giving US understanding in
the things of God. 1t purifies our af-
fections, so that more and more we
learn to love after the pattern of him
who first loved US. 1t enlightens the
conscience, setting 1t in line with the
law of God specially as written in his
word. 1t guides u wills, so that they
are no longer ours except as we de-
light to do that good and acceptable
and perfect will of God.
In all u need We may count upon
The persistence. patience and perfec-
tion OF Christ's work.
The AlI-sufielent Savior.
The text is also an evangel for the
sinner. and he who hesitates to begin
the Christian life may be assured here
and now that 'he which hath begun
/. will perfect" ALI he waits for
ig your faith, your surrender, your
obedience; then you will enter upon a
new year which by the grace Of the
mighty God of Jacob will go on into
an eternal life. and this life is In his
Son. He says. MY son. give me thine
heart" When you do that he will
enter In and take possession Of that
throne and from 1t rule every region
OF the life just so far al you yield II
to him. Do not hesitate to do It.. yau
will find Christ an alLsuficient Savior.
As your substitute he will deal with
the guilt of Elm; Al your Righteousness