The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1921-12-15

] "hlf'''H ''''N
the story that II tells Of one who
gave Himself for US"
james II. McConkey. author ~ The
Thrccfuld Secret OF the Holy spirit,
illustrates how this big motive" that
actuateS a man to give himself. even
as Christ also gave Himself >till moves
and prompts others.
MIR McCoukcy's brother heard that
an immense ice gorge on the banks of
the river was threatening Ia break
away and drown eleven men. women,
and children on an island just below
He Put tfty dollars into hls pocket
and hustcncd to the little town. lie
found the river bank lined with PEG.
pie. Stepping into the crowd. he of
fered nifty dollars to any man who
would help him attempt to rescue the
lmperiled ones But no man stirred
Again and again he held the money
before their eyes, but there was no
sign ~ response Then he sent a boy
10 store for rope when he brought
II. says Mr.. McConkey. my brother
tied one end of Il around his waist.
and offered 10 Join with any man who
would rope himself 10 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. Mt the Imminent
hazard of their lives. brought In safety
10 the shore. every man. woman. and
child upon the island.
"When my brother had offered mon.
ey 20 the people on the bank. not n
man stirred. but when they saw him
give himself, and saw the love for
those imperlled shat was back OF II,
II drew them to his side In an in
slant"
The call 10 service which the Apos-
tie here makes is preceded by such a
display OF the mercies of God, who
was In Christ reconclling the world
unto Himself" as To oyerwhelm the
soul with wonder and supply all neces-
sary incentive and motive power.
over against the dark background
Of moral aud spiritual ruin. God does
a redcmptiye work So adequate. and 50
farrenching that the CausatIOn be
tween sin and death Is broken. and
new causation Of supernatural grace
Is introduced, which Ia Its process.
brings life Instead OF death, righteous
ness instead OF sin, and Justification
instead Of condemnation. There Is
no condemnation triumphantly as
ser,s the Apostle, TO them that are
In Christ Jesus" Nor can there be
any separation from the love OF God
who has wrought u recouclllng work
and made us to be the recipients OF n
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 10 God
This Is continually called Tor in Scrip
ture. Ny son, give me thine heart
yield yourselves unto God. as those
that are alive from the dead; Pre-,
sent your bodies living sacrince.' II
does not matter what this act IL called
or named, but Il does matter that Il
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 un-
folding OF God to the soul. II opens
a new door through which the Ugh,
and love OF God streams In transform
Ing power. Not conforned. but trans.
formed IL 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 aud Spirit,
so long will the divine life be manifest.
ed through us and this Is the practl-
cal result of our reasonable service"
As another has well said. God gave
Himself for US. God gave Himself 10
us, and God wants to give Himself
through us" 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"