The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-11


prayer meeting topic of the young
peoples societies - Christian En-
deavor, etc. - For January 10:
Young Christians Reaching Up
ward. '-Ps. 63:1-S.
The growth that we seek must have
three dimensions. 1t must be down
ward as roots into the soil of prayer
and Bible study and meditation. 1t
must be outward, charging the scope
of our activities and interest and SYM
pathy, and compromising more of
the greatness of Gods love and work.
Then it must be an upward growth.
1t should reach up yearningly after
the nina of God, holding communion
with the Father, loving more and more
the things that are spiritual, and look
ing with increasing and steadfast
earnestness unto Jesus himself, who is
We are not full-grown Christians
until we have attained unto the
measure of the stature of the fullness
of Christ
The most deeply rooted Christians
Growth upward. follows growth
downward.
There are no circumstances that can
We rise by kneeling One great
cause of growth is secret prayer. The
Christians who stand still in the spirit
ual life are not those who daily and
eagerly resort to the closet of COM
munIon. Pre-eminent saints become
such by diligent cultivation of the de-
votional life.
Union with Jesus is his own pre-
scription for power and increase AS
we abide in him we grow For Chris
tan growth is due to divine power
within, and that power comes to the
branch thru the vine. Apart from
Christ we perish: present with Christ,
we prosper.
There is a mystery in every Chris
tan life, a mystery apart from which
religion itself is ineXplicabIe. That
mystery is the Holy Spirit, whom no
man has seen and whom no man can
understand yet without whom no man
can find salvation or Christian char
acter. One secret of growth is the
presence of the spirit in a believers
heart. He is our great helper. With
out him we can do nothing but by his
aid we may grow into the very like
ness of Jesus. So in every Christians
daily prayer should be a supplication
for the help of the mysterious and
mighty Third Person of the Trinity.
All growth comes from within. We
do not take on virtues as we put on
| clothes Outward graces are but the
manifest7on of an inward spirit. EX-
| ceIlent Christians are they in whose
| hearts Christ dwells supremely. What
| ever is praiseworthy of them has its
root in an indwelling presence. If we
| would he like Christ without we must
| have Christ within.
! The Christian life insures many
| things to those who accept it Prog
ress is one of these We cannot fol-
low Jesus faithfully without going for
ward. His way is walk onward.
! Each new day in his company is a
better day. a fuller. nob1er. more
| Christlike day. Therefore if our lives
are not changing from glory to
glory we we'll may question whether
| or not we are truly following Him
Branches grow only as the roots
grow. The inner life must expand
with the outward duty. Is it easier
for US to bear patiently the crosses
that come to US daily than it was a
year ago? Are we Drawer in confess
| ing Christ's name than we used to be
Has the prayer closet an increasing
charm, and is the Bible a more loved
and luminous book? If so we may
| humbIy believe that we are growing
| Christians
After all. it is a power outside OF
ourselves that makes possible oul
Christian growth. Only by the spirit
of the Lord can we be changed into
the divine image. Dependence upor
the spirit is the first requirement o.
growth
II 1ar md ell nf