Evening star., 1915-02-06

spiritual weariness. This is occasioned
by various causes. First. they often be-
come disheartened by the little progress
they are making in spiritual excellence.
Though they read the Bible and pray
and try to do work in the society and
IN the church yet they feel themselves
inefficient, worldly. carnal and un-
worthy. Secondly: They see that so lit
tie good has been accomplished by the
efforts put forth In return for their
labor for the spiritual uplift of those
around them they find so few who have
been benefited. In some cases those
they sought to help have injured tho
cause OF religion by such unworthy
conduct as to prove the bascness and
falseness of professions made
Third They become discouraged IN
observing the little difference that
tian and the non-Christian. They note
that the wicked prosper and the good
suffer adversely. On account OF such
dispensation of Providence. many have
lost heart and. like Asaph their feet
have almost slipped.
Fourth. The apparent Intellectual In
fuence their best efforts have in cor
recting the evils around them. Despite
their earnest prayers and labors. vice
ana immortality seem to increase rather
than diminish. and they become wearied
and faint in their minds.
The Spur to Endurance.
If such things as these are affecting
your mind. my reader. your Christian
Endeavor work Will not count for
much. You will have to turn to the
sovereign remedy for spiritual ,veari-
ness.
Consider what Christ endured. how
He endured and why He endured. II
He endured the ignominy of the cross
in meekness and love, reviling rot
against those who reviled Him. and en-
dured it all not for Himself. but for
His enemies, why should any one bear
ing His name ever be faint or weary
because of the little contradiction OF
sinners he meets with?
Whatever Christian endeaNor vic
tories have been won are the results OF
sChrists help. Paul recognized this
when he said; Thanks be TO God.
which giveth US the victory, through
our Lord Jesus Christ"
No Christian endeavor counts for
anything that does not .ly on Christ
for help No labor in tAe Lord is in
vain. but all labor in our own strength
is in vain.
Introducing Christ.
Christian endeavor means an effort to
do what Christ wants done Anything
endeavored in the line He hath direct
ed is certain to count in blessing to
him that SO worketh and to the cause
of Christianity
Christian endeavor that counts for
most depends upon how well you know
Christ. Do you know him well enough
to introduce others to Him? There are
many more around you than you think
who are desirous of knowing Him, and
if your Christian light so shone that
they could see your good works they
would approach you, saying:
''Sir. we would see Jesus" just an
certain Greeks did to Philip, as re-
lated in Johns gospel (ohap. 1920. 20.
sentatives of Christians who introduce
men to Christ.
Is your life so hid in Christ that it
any anxious. inquring souls should
you could introduce Him to them in
the beauty of His holiness and redeem
ing grace for men? Are You able to
tell others from your own experiences
that Christ is your friend, and that
He is altogether lovely? If SO. you
are prepared for service in the high
est realm of Christian endeavor. Win
ming souls counts for honor and joy
through all the endless days of eter-
nifty.
They that turn many to righteous
ness shall shine as the stars forever
and ever"
Character Building.
The Christian endeavor that counts
must have Christian character behind
it. 1t is the only thing ttat teils f0~
achievement in personal work or in
the associated endcavofs of gour So
ciety or church. Our sre;itest endeavo-
should be directed to building up ca.ir-
acter unto perfect man. unto 'iic
measure of the stature o. the fu:il ess
of Christ This will eter2aiiy count.
whatever else may fail
81 build up the being that Rts
Thus drinking in the soul OF thing.
We shall be wise pe-forcH: AID wliiie ii>ir-d
BY choice, and conscious that the viii * free
Cnswerving shall NOV, as IL impeled
BY strict necessity along tie path
OF order and good VIA 'er we see.
Whate'er feel by agency direct
Or indirect, snail tend TO feed and nurse
Our faculties. shall fix in calmer
Of normal strength. and raise to loftier heights
OF love divine our intellectual soul