The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1921-10-06

WkN INV come our innate
selfishness ana love of ease. The Cos
pei OF Christ supplies this motive In
the story that 1t tells Of One who
gave Himself for u.s."
James III. McConkey, author Of 1.-THE
Threefold Secret of the Holy Spirit"
illustrates how this big motive" that
actuates a man to give himself, even
as Christ also gave Himself, still moves
and prompts others.
Mr.. McConkey's brother heard that
an immense Ice gorge on the banks Of
the river was threatening to break
away and drown eleven men, women,
and children on an island just below.
He put fifty dollars into his pocket
and fastened to the little town. He
found the river bank lined with peo-
pie. Stepping into the crowd. he Of
fered fifty dollars to any man who
would help him attempt to rescue the
imperiled ones. But no man stirred.
Again and again he held the money
before their eyes, but there was no
sign of response. Then he sent boy
to store for rope. When he brought
1t, says Mr.. McConkey. my brother
tied one end Of 1t around his waist,
and offered to Join with any man who
would rope himself to him In an effort
to rescue those lives.
Immediately four men leaped to his
side. They roped themselves to the
same peril line with himself, and
those five men, picking their way over
the dangerous gorge. at the imminent
hazard Of their lives, brought In safety
to the shore, every man. woman, and
child upon the island.
when my brother had offered mon
ey to the people on the bank. not a
man stirred, but when they saw him
give himself, and saw the love for
those imperiled that was back Of 1t,
II drew them to his side in an in
slant"
The call to service which the Apos-
tie here makes Is preceded by such
display Of the mercies of God, "who
was in Christ reconciling the world
unto Himself" as to overwhelm the
soul with wonder and supply all neces-
sary incentive and motive power.
Over against the dark background
Of moral and spiritual ruin, God does
a redemptive work so adequate, and so
tween sin and death Is broken, and q
new causation Of supernatural grace
Is introduced, which in it's process,
brings life instead of death, righteous
ness instead of sin, and justification
instead of condemnation. There is
no condemnation" triumphantly as
serts the Apostle, ito them that are
in Christ Jesus" Nor can there be
any separation from the love of God
who has wrought reconciling work
and made us to be the recipients Of II
through faith.
On this great salvation Is based the
appeal for our reasonable service"
This service involves both an act and
an attitude. There should be on the
part of every Christian an intelligent
act of dedication of ones self to God
This is continually called for In Scrip
ture: my son, give me thine heart;
"Yield yourselves unto God, as those
that are alive from the dead; "Pre-
sent your bodies Il living sacrifice" 1t
does not matter what this act is called
or named, but it does matter that It
be performed.
aye are not your own" is the plain
statement of Scripture. This declar-
alton is acknowledged In the dedica-
ton of ones self unto the Lord. Ev-
cry such acknowledgment fixes the
soul more entirely and securely on
God, and Is the signal for new I'M
folding of God to the SOUL 1t opens
new door through which the light
and love of God streams In transform
ing power. Not conformed. but trans
formed Is the condition of the Chris
tian's true life.
Our reasonable service also in
cludes the matter of attitude. We
must maintain the ground taken In the
act of dedication. This is the fight
of faith. AS long as the life Is prop
erly adjusted to the will of God as
made known by His Word, and Spirit,
so long will the divine life be manifest
ed through u.s. and this Is the practi-
cal result of our reasonable service"
AS another has well said, God gave
Himself for us, God gave Himself to
us, and God wants to give Himself
through u.s." AS He does this the
world about us Is blessed. The meas
ure OF this blessing is determined
largely by the act and the attitude In
volved in our reasonable service"