The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1916-11-23
LESSON FOR NOVEMBER 26
A LIVING SACRIFICE.


living sacrifice, holy. acceptable unto
God, which II your spiritual service
Rom. 1871 r. v.
The first II chapters Of this let
ter teach and Illustrate the great
principles OF the Christian life. Paul
calls IL "my Gospel" Its funda-
mental principle Is that Justification
regenerates men. and nothing else.
The second section Is the practical APP
pllcntlon Of these truths.
I. The Eshortstion to Gratitude
tvv. l-2). Therefore" because Of the
work Of Christ on our behalf. we are
Ia present our bodies as living
sacrifices unto God. to be used for
his glory and service. (Sce chapter
6:13, TO- 1o). Paul urges. he beseeches I:
he Is wlnsome. though he might com
mand. To present" technically means,
bring an offering TO God" The body
Is the sum Of all human faculties.
physical and spiritual. II must not be
defiled by being yielded as an instru-
ment 10 sin. for II Is the temple of
God. u Cor. 3:16. ~. A Living Of
fering." tnot ms the bodies Of slain
animals offered by Jews) Is conse-
Grafton e the body. and not a destruc-
ton Of life. The original means that
this-the offering Of ourselves as
living sacrifice-ls n reasonable. ra-
tional service. God has the right of
ownership of every member OF our
body. and there never was n day when
there was greater need of insisting
upon a Christianity that affects the
bodies Of men than today. Hands, lips.
ears, eyes-every member should be
constantly presented to him who pur-
chased II by the blood of his own Son.
q Cor. $40: ! Pet. 1:1Sl9) This
IL spiritual. religious service be-
cause II Is our spirit which presents
the Offering Of the body which he In
habits. Too many Of us are fash
Toned according to this age"
%. The Expression Of Gratitude
wv. 3-s). or the right use Of the gifts
Of God. "a Avoid "self-conceit" wv.
$50. These verses indicate how Inn
portant this subject is. Conceit is en-
tertaining nm exaggerated opinion Of
ones own ability. The church has
many members, and they do not all
have the same Office: there Is variety
In the unity Of the body. So In the
church there are many members In
one body" each Of which is important;
all are essential. (2) prophecy"
". %, not necessarily foretelllng. but
the revelation Of spiritual truth and
experience according 10 the proper
tIon Of our faith ops. 30 ~, the living.
spiritual experience Of the presence Of
God within us. (3) Ministry" ". -.
The business side Of the church. col
lecting OF Its money and the distribu-
ton to the poor. Some can best at-
tend TO such business. Many churches
fail by not selecting wise leaders for
this work. (D "He that teacheth."
The true pastor Is combined proph-
ct. pastor and teacher. We are all
teaching. whether we wish to or not.
II In a privilege as well as an obliga-
ton.
~. Conduct Toward All Men wv.
Aht ttht"fh cthA httho sun
ance. encouragement and instruction.
az "In love" ". o.. The hypocrite
wears a mask. Notice the close con-
nection OF "abhor that which IL evil"
with "cleave TO that which is good"
The word for cleave means literally
TO glue II. so that nothing can separate
you from love which Is the supreme
good. "In honor preferring one an
other" ". 10). Let others carry the
banner-few of us can stand this acid
tes. CD "Dlligsnt In business" ".
III. Whatsoever your hands find to
do. do II with your might, being fer
vent or boiling In spirit. the reverse Of
the previous exhortation. In that which
we are thus to serve the Lord. Few
need exhortatlon TO be diligent In their
own business, but all Of US need this
exhortatlon with regard TO the "king's
business" (4) Rejoicing In hope ".
12). Triumphing over trials and diff
cultles In the way. Looking for that
blessed hope" (Titus 2:13). (5) Pa
thence and tribulation ". 12). The
Latin "tribulum" was the threshing in
strument or roller whereby the hus-
bandman separated grain from the
husk. Sorrow. distress and adversely
are the means for separating men from
the chaff of their lives. Sometimes
small annoyances. long continued. be-
come great fluctuations. (See Joshua
24:1S) (0 Continuing In the school
of prayer ". 12). Steadfast. urgent
pressing. persevering prayer Uuke
12:D. ca "Glven to hospitality" ".
49,: literally, pursued II.
The word "condescend" Is not strong
enough-it should be literally Borne
away" from the living things along the
line Of the things that are humble.
(s) Living peaceably with all men
". 49, being ready for peace and 10
do more than your share Of recon
ciliatios-
co. Overcoming evil with good
wv. 1921. The heaping Of Goals upon
the enemy's head is not the object but
the result Of returning good for evil.
(Soo proverbs ID .21-22l