Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-04
A Living Sacrifice
Sermons by
REV. FLOYD W. TOMkINS.
Text: Romans MI.
Text: Honinnn MI.


haphazard thing. lie did not live in
any and every way just AS inclina-
tion led him. but he fashioned his life
according 10 the pattern which was
given to him In Christ Jesus. and he
consccratcd all he had and all he did
TO the same Master Who loved him
and gave Himself for him. So must
we fashion our lives. 1t is not right
for US just to live on day after day,
taking things as they come and hav-
ing no end in view. We are made for
a purpose. and IT is for us to MAKE all
things serve that purpose. The rea
son so many iooiIsn people cry. is
life worth living" Is because they
seem TO think they have nothing to do
with the shaping of their lives. when
really. under God. they have all to do
with 1t. We may not be able TO con
troll the experiences that come to u.s.
but We can use those experiences and
make them serve us In the develop
ment or character. We may not know
what tomorrow may bring OF joy or
sorrow. but We can press on toward the
perfection TO which our Lord calls us
What does my life mean" must be
an answered question by the man who
would he victorious.
st. Pauls first principle Was that he
must present his body as a living sac
rihcc. Not that he must necessarily he
crucitied. as was his Christ. but that
perfection Of his life. If that seems
too high principle for MS. let us note
how men are doing this very thing for
lie Ter and imperfect ends. The athlete
makes his body. with its desires and
passions, a sacrifice to his victory. He
says to his body: You must do as
tell you. You must sleep 50 much and
you must be uourished with the food
supply, and you must be exercised in
the way think wise. for through YOU
hope to win my game"
SACRIFICE or BODY
TO OBTAIN ENDS
The worker gays tn. same thing. Ills
body would like to he in bed in the
morning, but he says, NO, YOU must
get up and help me do my work"
Note tho successful business man. how
lie sacrifices his body to his business.
and the artist does the same for his
art. and the student for his study. II
is not that tho body is crushed or
abused or broken. The man who does
this is bound TO fail. But the body is
10 serve for a good and sure purpose.
and as a matter Of fact the body pros
pers through this very service. whereas
IL left To itself 1t runs Wild and de-
Gays. SO when determine TO do what
God wants III. 10 do | say 10 my hod.,
You must help me" | keep il under.
] teach II, | control II. | make /, feel
and act and advance in the paths that
lcdu TO I,DG. Is thrTs not something
fine about that sacrifice? Does not my
body become n friend. a helper. com
panion. rather than an enemy failing
In the hour OF need. tripping me
up. tempting me-
And let us remember Paul here
speaks not merely OF tn. physical body.
but OF all that the physical body holds
the senses. the mind. the heart. IN.
emotions. God wants my whole he
Ing. and when ! give II to Him and
ask Him TO bless it. then He gives il
back to re and can use IL in His
name and uy His power. That * the
secret OF Miss Havcrgars CONSIDERATION
hymn. Take my life. my hands. my
feet. my voice. my will-take myself.
and / will y. always. only. all for
Thee. How splendid IL Is when J think
that God owns me because ] have laid
myself at Ills feet. That was what
Paul did, and so h. did not care Very
much wha; happened 10 him--he left
all that To God. What h" wanted was
TO do Gods work and to be made per-
feet through the way he lived.
TAUGHT PRINCIPLE OF
SERVICE TO OTHERS
Then there was another great prin-
cipic by which Paul lived. and which
also called for a living sacrifice. lie
tried to serve others, even as Christ
lived and died for others We are all
one body" he cries. Ky. are members
one another" And how finely he made
good his determination. How he went
from city to city. from house to house.
telling people that God loved them and
wanted them to live nobly and purely.
How he faced. AS we have seen. all
kinds of peril that nc might preach
tho Gospel In Rome And what per-
Bonal service he rendered. as his long
list OF friends proves. for there was
not one OF them whom he had not
helped and comforted in some way! II
] obey my own selfish impulses ! look
out for myself and do not bother about
other people II I sacrifice my own
wishes and ease and pleasure and try
to make somebody else happy and
blessed. then | find life new thing.
1t Is lifted up, ii is dear. II has new
emotions. il seems to be united TO God
in some mysterious way because ! am
following Him who left the giories OF
heaven TO come to earth for mems
salvation. a life thus lived is eternal.
1t does not end. even on earth. when
the man dies. 1t lives on-"Their
works do follow them"-and il will
live forever in Gods other world.
And then Paul shows how practical
this life is. 1t Is not formal or sepa
rated from the common ways OF men.
The follower of Chris; does not go
away by himself and spend all his time
in attempted self-culture. On the con-
trary. he goes among men and does
things in new spirit. "He that
Giveth, let him do it with simplicity;
he that ruleth. with diligence: he that
showeth mercy. with cheerfulness Be
Kindly afPcctioned one to another BE
not slothful in business. BE patient
In tribulation. Live peaceably with all
men," What a simple and definite
program. and how natural!
PRINCIPLES OF PAUL
NORMAL AND PRACTICAL
Some people have an idea that Paul
lived on an exalted plain. far above
the crowd and that the Christian life
Is quite an abnormal thing. unnatural.
forced. peculiar. Could anything he
more natural than the principles by
which Paul lived here applied TO
daily existence, and does not the story
OF his life show how he followed them
himself? The fact is that the only real
~ aormal life Is the life that follows
c. list. no obey impulses which soon
or late spell ruin. TO be selfish and seek
personal profit regardless of others
needs. TO forget or neglect prayer and
Bible and church and communicates
not this to lower the whole character
of life and TO act as if there were no