The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-04-01

days aad devoted nights. to strive and
struggle and serve and sympathize.
and all that il to be icpunted as spirit
why. brother Paul. what do, you
mean? Isn't feeling ecstatic and sing
ing hymns and going to conventions
and reading devotional books being
spiritual7" Not at all; it Is doing the
will of God. Real spirituality Is inde-
pendent of all moods: it is unshakable
loyalty to Jesus Christ. :
The authors therefore," at the
opening of his famous chapter. pillars
all his exhortations in the sublime
truths concerning God which he has
written in the earlier chapters. A
pean of praise to the exaltedness of
Jehovah closes chapter eleven. This
doxology is the climax of his profound
teaching about the revelation of God
to man. Therefore, present your
bodies" is the logical consequence of
all this wonderful truth. The upshot
of the entire discourse, just practical
service
The Great TRANSFORMATION.
What is the grand end and aim of
all Christian teaching. SO far as hu-
man life is concerned? Paul answers
quite plainly: Transformed Christians.
Here we face the ultimate thing. The
supreme objective of all Instruction
Given that, and the church can, win
all victories. Without it, Nothing else
counts. -
Isn't the need of the Church for
more money!" No; it Is for trans
formed lives.
Surely the Church must firat have
more mem" No; more transformed
lives,
in the church membership. the, task
would surely be more quickly accom-
plished ?" No: transformed liy 5
May we not count on the spread
of the Sunday School and Christian
Endeavor and the Mems Movements
to win the kingdoms victory?" No,
it needs transformed lives.
perhaps a higher grade of preach
ing, or q different kind would dorit?
Maybe we need some more Billy Sun
days?" No; nothing but transformed
lives can carry the message to all the
world.
From A to q, the whole encyclo-
pedia of Christian teaching Is just
this: transformed lives by the power
OF Christ. If the Church is failing to
produce these, then the failure Is
fundamental and complete Except
our own personal faith bear these
fruits Of transformed life, it is in
vain. We even dare go further: the
whole revelation of God to man is
of no avail, until it Is eventuating
in transformed lives.
We may view with great concern
the modern tendency to substitute
sophistication and Organization and
wealth and power and worldly alli-
ances for the old apostolic program
of transformed lives. Does this pres
ent-day disposition mean that, we are
not willing to pay the price which
the pen of inspiration has written
down? There can be no substitute for
personal holiness. We may endow
universities, build memorial churches,
give large sums to philanthropy and
religious activity; but these are
merely heather practices if they are
meant to be substitutes for personal
righteousness. When they are the
consequences of characters made over
into Christ-like-ness. they are wholly
good. Otherwise, they are mere at
tempts to bribe God.
Nothing but the transformation of
character can affect the great re-
suits enumerated in this chapter
which we are studying; humility.
faith, love, resignation, prayerfulness,
liberality, hospitality, sy m p n y,
peaeefulness and forgiveness These
are but marks of the new character
which the renewed mindg5produees,
The changed life is strong for UNDER
going and strong for overcoming. It
abhors that which is evil; and it
covets earnestly the best gifts Let US
not blink or dodge. the Tremendous
truth which is central not only to- this
Lesson, but ALSO to5- the -Bfhles= Be
We perfect even as your rather in
heaven is perfect"