The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-12-26
- WEEKLY SUNDAY SCHOOL LEssON--
Study of Pauls Life Reveals His High Character
:, The International Uniform Sunda
school Lesson for Dec. 81: Review Q
Pauls Life from Athens TO Rome. wit
Special Christmas Reference
BY William IL. ,GiIrOy, ID. ID.
Editor Of The Congregationalist

By william IL. ,GiIrOy, ID. ID.
Editor of The Congregationalist
T is fitting that the review OF
a great section Of Paui's life
- and ministry should come at
the Christmas season. No life out
side of that OF the life of the Great
Master himself ever more fully or
beautifully expressed the Christmas
spirit than did the life of Saint Paul.
1t is in one Of his epistles that we
have recorded the saying OF Jesus
not recorded elsewhere in any OF the
sacred writings. He speaks Of the
words of the Lord Jesus 'how he
said: 1t is more blessed to give than
to receive"
1t was characteristic Of Paul that
these words Of Jesus had found a
central place in his life. lie found all
the joy of the Christian life and of
the expression OF his Christian faith
in giving himself In service for
others. 1t had become the supreme
passion of his being to manifest to-
ward God and toward the world that
spirit of loving sacrifice that Jesus
had manifested toward him.
1t was this great fact of Christ
mas, the coming. Of Christ into the
world as the expression OF the free
and unlimited grace of God. that
dominated all Paul's thinking and
that became the motive power in
everything he did. Even in the ordi-
nary things Of life he had no thought
of getting anything for himself. He
took pride IN maintaining his min
istry at his own expense lie worked
with his hands as a tentmaker that
he might not be chargeable unto
those to whom he preached the Cos
pei, although he recognized that 1t
was entirely fitting that a man who
preached the gospel and who gave
faithful service should have proper
provision for his maintenance.
Art of Giving
In the higher things OF life he
similarly practiced the art Of giving.
He used his scholarship and his cul.
ture for the blessing of his fellow
men. All that God had given him
of ability and all that he had at
tanned through education and train
ing. he utilized for the helping and
uplifting of lowly men.
Nowhere In all literature Is there
a nobler spirit of democracy than
breathes through the life and work
Of Paul. He rejoiced in the power
of God to save and help common
people. There was in him nothing
Of the pride and contempt of the
strong for the weak though he wa
man of indomitable force of will
Nor was there anything of pride anc
the contempt Of scholar for the Is
norant and unlearned.
All Of life In it's abilities and en-
dowments had become touched for
him with the glory of love and ser
vice. 1t Is these things that II Is
worth while for us to observe IN
Paul at this Christmas season. II is
these things that II is worth while
for us to emulate in our lives
Secret Of Living
II there is one thing that perhaps
above all others we may recall in
this review OF a quarters lessons, II
is Paul's words concerning God in
his sermon upon Mars Hill, nj
Athens, that God is not far from
every one of us. To realize that in
him we live and move and have our
being is to find the secret of 10Y,
Gus, noble living as Paul found it,
Only as we find this God, and thus
consciously live and move and have
our being in him. do we discover the
JOY and glory of Christmas. do we
accept the gift that came 10 the
world in the birth of the Babe OF
Bethlehem.
\ And there is one further thine
that Paul's life and teaching empha.
sizes for us; namely. that Christ Is
the saviour Of the individual as wei
as the saviour OF the world. We
come in all Paurs writings to an in.
innate personal Saviour. The gospel
that has manifested its power In the
lives Of other men can manifest its
power in the life Of every man who
win yield himself to the power OF
Gods grace.