Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-11-24
Sunday School Lesson
Bu Dr.. Marion Neil. Hull

pulsive. slow, creeping: but when the
metamorphosis takes place. the same
repulsive insect has been changed into
a beautiful being with gorgeous colors,
that is free and goes from place to
place with speed and lightness, and is
as attractive as it can be. This is
what Jesus asks of you. That you be
not conformed, but transformed. That
you shape not your life according to the
present age, but that you be transfig-
ured like the caterpillar is into the but
terfiy, and all that is now repulsive and
hindersome in your life win become at
tractive and helpful. Is this unreason-
able. considering all that He has done
for you, particularly when the end In
view is considered? For He asks this
that you may prove that the will of
God is good and acceptable and perfect.
now often we are afraid of the Will OF
God. We fear that il may hinder us
and limit US. But He wants US to prove
that il is good and acceptable and
perfect.
NOT CONFoRMED. BUT TRANS
FORMED.
When a man yields to this request of
Jesus and is not conformed. but trans
formed. there are certain fruits which
follow this presentation of his body as
living sacrifice. First of these is
humility: and the next, love; and the
next, loyalty; and the next is consider
alton for others. These things are dealt
with in the succeeding chapters of this
letter. We are not going TO study all of
them, but just look at the picture
which is presented in the rest of this
twelfth chapter of the man who has
yielded to Christ's request.
L think you will find, If you study
carefully, that what Paul is ever urging
is just the opposite of the shape or
form or fashion of the present age.
One of the characteristics of the present
age is pride-pride of position, pride of
attainment. Paul here urges just the
opposite Of thar, humility. humility is
a just estimate of ones self. 1t is not
cringlng before another but it is getting
a true estimate of ones self as COM
pared with God, rather than in compar-
lsOn with a fellow-man. Old Calvin
translated this passage in a striking
way. He says that "a man ought not
to be high-minded above what he ought
to be minded, but so to be minded as to
be sOber-minded."
1t is the tendency of everyone to
want to be first in everything, but Paul
calls their attention to the fact that
here are various gifts. but they all come
from the same grace. he mentions
seven here. The gift of prophecy, or
preaching; the gift of ministerIng, or
serving others; the gift of teaching, or
instructing others; the gift of exhorta-
ton, or comforting others; the gift Of
communication, or giving to others; the
gift of ruling, or leading others; and
the gift Of showing mercy.
Suppose that one who is a really
great preacher or one who is a really
good teacher should be jealous each of
the other, should be high-minded be-
cause he has a certain qualification
which the other one has not. He is
proud of his attachments. That is ac-
cording TO the present evil age, that is
pride But the man who is Being
transformed, metamorphosed, realizes
that in each case here it is a gift Of
Gods grace, and is not either mans
own making; therefore, there is no
occasion for pride, but merely for
humility. And so 10 the man who is
not confOrmed, but being transformed:
ne will use his gift to the very best of
his ability in the lines which the gift
will be most useful, recognizing that it
is a gift from God. and be grateful for
IT rather than proud of 1t.
Another Characteristic of the present
age is selishness. In marked contrast
to that in It's many manifestations,
Paul is urging the man who is being
transformed and not conformed, to
show Christ-likeness in his life toward
his fellow-man, and i'm the way that he
deals with him. Such love must be sin
cere and because OF that love he must
hate evil and always have a bent toward
that which is good. He must enter into
the heart life of his Christian broth
ers rejoicing with them that rejoice
and weeping with them that weep: Civ
ing TO their needs; showing Christ
likeness toward those who prosecute
and curse; avoiding revenge and over
coming evil with good. Study each one
or the phrases very carefully i'm these
verses and see how In contrast the
Christ-like life is set over against the
life fashioned according to this age.
And so this is our word on this
Thanksgiving day. In appreciation for
all that Jesus has done for us, let US
heed His request, and not fashion our
lives according to this age, but have
hem metamOrphOsed so that We NAV
=Aemplfy in your relationships to one
mother that which will be well pleas
ng to Him, and prove that the will of
God for US is good and acceptable and
perfect.