The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-01-21


A succinct summary of the warning
forces in the soul of man, the Flesh
and the Spirit is given in Peloubets
Notes:
1.-THE flesh is that state of mind
which gives itself up to yielding to the
temptations of the body, which makes
temporal things first in Importance,
and uses its energies to gain the lux
uFieS and pleasures which pamper our
temporal bodily life, in contrast with
those that elevate our higher spiritual
nature. 1t includes everything that as
wrong, all gain at the expense OF
righteousness and love, all pleasures
that injure others. 1t is a wrong, hell
ish state of mind.
1.-The Spirit is the spirit of God in
man. 1t is our higher nature, which IS
like Gods nature. We learn what the
Spirit is by its fruits. For the fruit
of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long
suffering, gent1eness, goodness, faith
meekneSs, temperance: against such
there is no law
! THE Battle of Life is between these
two forces. For the flesh lusteth
against the Spirit, and the Spirit
against the flesh: and these are con-
trary the one to the other; so that ye
cannot do the things that We would ;"
The Law of the New Life.
Z Religion is a poor thing if it is not
Joyous and jubilant and hopeful. One
of the characteristics of non-Christian
faiths is the element of dread of their
deities This slave-spirit is quite the
contrary of the Christian program.
The word for Gods disciples is sons
They call Him Father" This beauti-
full and loving relationship is by the
help of the Spirit in whom the chill
dren of God are joint-heirs with His
Son, Christ. The implica-
lions of that truth are tremendous. 1t
means sharing the Christ life of VIC
tory over the flesh. 1t means a king
dom state of mind. It means service
and suffering for the world. All that
Christ was, His younger brothers are,
in some degree, to be also.
Old Paul saw far into the heart
of things He discerned that the
fIesh-crucifying. S p r t-magnifying
life was in fellowship with Christ in
its rewards. Like Him. it might suf-
fer for a time but the compromising
glory waited ahead. I'm this hope are
we saved" 1t seems strange to read
of PauPs having any trouble in his
PRAYERS he who is the master prayer
of the apostolic church; but of his
experience he cheers the church at
helpful Spirit pleads for US as well as
with us.
Does all this sound too spiritual
for everyday consumption? A legion
of Christians know that it is not. And
the conclusion of the teaching is ut
terly practical. "All things work to-
gether for good" Paul himself con-
cludes this wonderful eighth Chapter
kof Romans with the statement that
1t all means that the Christian has
divine help for meeting earthly diff
ficulties. 1 quote from modern
version: What inference, then, are
we to draw in the light of all this
If God is on our side who can there
be against us? God did not withhold
His own Son, but gave Him up on be-
half of us all. Surely, then, He will
with Him, as freely give US every
thing!"
The Things We Lose by Seeking.
Terse Comments on the Uniform
Prayer Meeting Topic of the Young
Peoples Societies Christian En-
deavor, etc-for January %:
amusement That Is Worth While
l -Eccl. 3:1-15.
| M Pleasure is not an end but an Incl
dent of life. 1t is meant to hearteT
us and invigorate US we travel the
path of duty. We misconceive of life's
essentials when we put pleasure first
When pleasure becomes the object Of
life the life itself is dwarfed into
such smallness that it cannot enjoy
| true pleasure.
| The whole-heartedness of oul
pleasures should boar testimony tC
| our religion There is something
lacking in the Christianity of the per
son who cannot heartily enjoy him
self.
patton is Christian.
Pleasures are either recreation oil
dissipation. The former build up
strengthen, satisfy. but the latter
waste time or health or money oil
all pleasures that are recreation Chris
would give His approval.
| Amusements are to religion like
breezes of air to the flame-gentlt
ones will fan it, but strong ones viii
put it out-Thomas.
| People who live only to amuss
themselves work harder at the tasl
than most people do in earning theil
daily bread.-Hannah More.
God is glorified by profitable pleas
ure as well as by solemn worship
For it is the happy life-loving, sun
shiny saints who advertise the whole
someness and sanity of the religion
| of Jesus
CNeh anu oNS CT ~ menus - o0
and especially by the iteration of mul
| tiplied lives-that becoming a Christ
ian means giving up no joy that Il
worth any mans possessing, and j
means also an entrance into a larger
happier and fuller-orbed life. Thu
symmetrical character, the rega
spirit, is the one that has all its eX
periences sanctified by a deep desir'
to glorify God in work and in play.
When a lifes aim is one, and tina
the glory of God, all it's interests, Vo
cations and avocations will be har
monious, because animated and dom
| mated by this single purpose.
Many a Christian who is troubled
by morbid questionings about his spir
itual state needs nothing else in thu
world so much as to get out in tn
sunshine and enjoy himself. A ten